Capital Punishment
... oppose the execution of juvenile offenders. These organizations present many facts and arguments to support their position. The United States has laws prohibiting persons under the age of 18 from voting, serving in the military, leaving home, making medical decisions, marrying, entering into contracts and purchasing tobacco. All these laws are governed around the presumption that juveniles are less mature than adults. Individuals and organizations that are against the execution of juveniles argue that sentencing juveniles to death contradicts this distinction. There is also scientific evidence to support these claims that juveniles are less mature. Recent studies and experiments performed by the Harvard Medical School and UCLA’s Department of Neuroscience have shown that certain parts of the brain that control judgment, reasoning and impulse control are not completely developed until the late twenties. (Death Penalty Information Center) Also, people who do not support the death penalty for juveniles claim that the two major goals of capital punishment, retribution and deterrence, do not apply to juveniles. The goal of retribution is to give the most horrible punishment to the most deserving individual. Since juveniles are so young and immature, many individuals believe that they are not the most deserving individuals. The goal of deterrence is to deter and prevent others from committing the crime. Given juveniles social and mental immaturity, many believe that they cannot make well-informed decisions. Also, some people believe that young criminals have a greater chance of being reformed due to their young age. Although the majority of American adults oppose the execution of juveniles, many approve of it. Many individuals and organizations in the United States, including myself, support the execution of juveniles under certain circumstances. Age should not be a factor when it involves punishing someone for an extreme crime. Juvenile crimes, specifically murder, are much common in the United States than in other places and therefore needs to be handled more strictly. (American Bar Association) Almost ever political leader is in support of harsher punishment for juveniles who commit violent crimes. Just because an individual is young does not mean they cannot tell right from wrong. The two main goals of deterrence and retribution do apply to juveniles. The education individuals receive in their young years of life effects the type of person they become. Maturity has nothing to due with knowing whether something is right or wrong. Just because these individuals may not be fully mature. They know the crime they committed was wrong. Retribution of the harshest form needs to be paid to these juveniles because they are the most deserving because of their harsh actions. The execution of mentally retarded individuals is also a well-argued issue through out America. In 1994, congress adopted legislation to prohibit the execution of mentally retarded individuals. Sixteen states have banned it all together. It is currently up to the state courts to define mentally retardation. The most common definition is anyone who has an IQ less than 70. It is said that at least 35 mentally retarded people have been executed in the United States since 1976. (Death Penalty Information Center) Many people are against execution of the mentally retarded arguing that it is unethical and unmoral for the American government to practice such a form of punishment. They bring up many points while arguing this issue. Health experts point out that the characteristic of a mentally retarded person’s personality usually consists of a high desire to please others. This could result in confessing to crimes that they did not even commit. In the case of Earl Washington, a man with the IQ of 69, this was just what happened. In 1983, police convinced Washington to make a statement concerning the rape and murder of a Virginia woman. In 1984 the statement, containing his confession, was used against him in court and he was convicted and sentenced to death. Sixteen years later DNA evidence proved that Washington was innocent of these crimes and he was given an absolute pardon. (Death Penalty Information Center) In 1989, the American Bar Association established polices which opposes the execution of those with metal retardation. They argued that it is unacceptable in a civilized society. Mentally retarded individuals are not fully aware of what they are doing when they commit these crimes do to their disabilities. Although many people are against the execution of mentally retarded individuals and many support the issue. Many believe that they should not be exempt from the death penalty simply because they are not as smart. Just because they have a low IQ does not mean they cannot tell right from wrong. If they know what they did was wrong they should have to take responsibilities for their actions and face the consequences. The mentally ill and insane are also a major factor in the argument of capital punishment. Mental illne...