Explain Why Juveniles Should Not Receive The Death Penalty

Juveniles should not receive the death penalty. The frontal lobe is not completely developed until the early twenties. The eighth amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. There is plenty of time for rehabilitation. Therefore, minors should not be given the death penalty

The frontal lobe, the reasoning portion of the brain, does not completely develop until around age 25. In adulthood, the frontal lobe makes a person more rational. A teenager’s ability to reason comes from the part of the brain associated with emotions. Although a juvenile should know the difference between right and wrong, the emotions could be so strong they do something irrational. The age set for joining the army, smoking, and drinking is at after the age of 18 in the United States due to the lack of development in the teenage

Killing a juvenile by lethal injection is a cruel punishment. Four supreme court justices have agreed that the death penalty for a minor is a “shameful practice”. Death by lethal injection involves the administration of 3 drugs. The first to sedate, the second to paralyze, and the third to stop the heart. Giving these drugs to a juvenile would be considered both cruel and unusual punishment.

Rehabilitation for juveniles would be better than sentencing them to death. Research shows that 90% of people who break the law during their younger years do not become criminals when they are older. Juveniles are easier to rehabilitate than adult offenders. By rehabilitating, the offender not only gets punished for their wrong doing, but he/she also gets the chance to be a better person. Rehabilitation for the juvenile offender is a better option than the death penalty.

The two best arguments against getting rid of the death penalty for juveniles are that anyone who kills another person should be killed themselves, and that everyone knows the difference between right and wrong. However, both arguments are