The idea for this type of juvenile justice system stemmed from the increasingly harsh treatment juveniles received in 1899 in Chicago, Illinois. Although, this brought forth the idea of developmental differences in youth the 20th century has experienced a higher amount of violent crime and in response has manipulated the juvenile justice system to result in allocating stricter policies and punishments. These stricter policies and punishments have given rise to an increase in death penalty sentencing and life in prison for youth.
Cothern analyzes the history of Supreme Court decisions in relation to capital punishment as well as an in depth view of juveniles sentenced to death. The criteria for sentencing a juvenile to death is evaluating the seriousness of the crime, the maturity of the juvenile and their environment, the juvenile's history, and the possibility for rehabilitation of the juvenile as well as the public safety issues. .
Cothern profiles the youth affected by the death penalty and discusses that prior to execution many of the youth have entered adulthood. Differences in state acceptance is addressed while the majority of the existing fifty states authorize the death penalty about half of the states allow the execution of minors. In conclusion, specific cases are addressed and rehabilitation programs are discussed.
C. Cothern presents the point of view in opposition to the death penalty for youth with the argument that the juvenile justice system contradicts the foundation and purpose for separating the juvenile justice system from the adult system. The death penalty is looked at in a historical basis where the amount of people and juveniles executed is provided which are shocking numbers and strengthen Cothern's argument. An international movement to abolish the death penalty is discussed and the article seeks to provide as an effective resource toward "humane responses to juvenile crime and violence" (Cothern, 2000, p.
-There are 81 juveniles currently on death row in the United States, 64% are people of color. ... This year, the DRC established a moratorium on executions, Pakistan abolished the death penalty for juveniles and Iran announced that it is preparing to do the same. ... -Contact Death Penalty Focus. ... -Start a Death Penalty Focus chapter at your school. ... -Attend national conferences on death penalty organizing. ...
In the seventeen years from when the death penalty was reinstated, 17 men were executed for crimes that they committed as juveniles. ... Debate about the use of the death penalty for juveniles has grown more intense because of the demand for harsher punishment for serious and violent juvenile offenders and challenges to the death penalty's legality. ... In this paper I will discuss the evolution of the death penalty and its application to juvenile offenders, justifications for sentencing juveniles to death row, and why proponents feel that there are other alternatives. ... Without ruling...
Also thrown into the mix is the issue of the death penalty for juveniles. ... The greatest costs of the death penalty are incurred prior to and at trial, not in post-conviction proceedings. ... Even if all post-conviction proceedings were abolished, the death penalty system would still be more expensive than the alternative. Aside from the deterrence myth and astronomical costs of the death penalty, it is important to consider the mindset of a juvenile who commits even the most egregious act. ... Their "Color of Justice" study is only the tip of the iceberg when we consider the ramificatio...
Should Juveniles Be Subject to the Death Penalty? ... Should a juvenile be subject to the death penalty? ... Retentionists seek to hold the current death penalty laws unchanged for these reasons: (1) the death penalty is a deterrent for criminal behavior, (2) a murderer is not capable or deserving of rehabilitation, regardless of age, and (3) the cost of keeping a juvenile incarcerated for a life time would be too high. ... A proponent of the death penalty would argue exactly this point. ... The average murder rates among death penalty states were 8.0, and the average among non-death p...
Issue: The goal of this paper is to show the pros and cons and give information on the juvenile death penalty. ... Although there are those who have good arguments for the juvenile death penalty, which will be presented later on in my paper, I think that it's a shameful practice. ... The Federal Government has imposed the death penalty against American Indian children for crimes they committed as young as ten years old (The National coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty). ... There are many arguments that support the use of the death penalty for juveniles. ... In modern day only...
Juveniles are highly incapable of making reasoning and lifelong decisions. ... Sentencing teens to the death penalty is cruel and unreasonable; therefore, juveniles should not be sentenced to the death penalty. ... Murderers do not expect to be caught or to be sentenced to death, so the threat of the death penalty has no effect on them. ... "Ten of the 12 states without capital punishment have homicide rates below the national average," the Times said, "while half the states with the death penalty have homicide rates above the national average." In a state-by- state analys...
Con's Those who oppose the death penalty feel very strongly about their opinions. ... JUVENILES Pro's Those who feel it is right to kill juveniles by the death penalty agree that murder is a serious offense at any age. ... Also juveniles on death row might be unable to fully understand the consequences of their actions. ... Then the jury decides on a final verdict, either life without parole, or the death penalty. ... Clearly, the real question here is: Is the death penalty effective, fair, and morally right? ...
Proposition 21 allows courts to try juveniles as young as fourteen in adult court, imposes stiffer penalties for gang related offenses, and increases penalties for serious crimes (Text of Proposition 21, 2000). ... Juveniles commit many of these homicides. ... Confidentiality/Juvenile Records Prior to the passage of proposition 21, juveniles tried in the juvenile court were afforded the benefit of confidentiality. ... -Gang Shooting from Vehicle causing GBI/Death. ... New Death Penalty Special Circumstance Proposition 21 has enacted the following as part of California's death penalty st...
