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Impact Of Roper V Simmons

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Roper v. Simmons is considered a landmark case and is one of a handful that shows a new direction in granting some relief from what has been established as harsh “adult” punishments for juveniles (Elrod & Ryder, 2014). In fact, many studies are showing that the differences between adults and juveniles are quite significant (Elrod & Ryder, 2014). The courts are realizing that these differences must be taking into account when dealing with juveniles in the criminal justice system (Elrod & Ryder, 2014). However, that being said, change does not occur overnight, and for the unforeseeable future, juveniles will still continue to be waived into adult courts (Elrod & Ryder, 2014). The Roper v. Simmons decision has significant impacts on juveniles …show more content…

Crook was reported missing by her husband later the same day when he returned home from a short trip (Roper v. Simmons, 2005). Later the same day, fishermen discovered her body. Simmons was very self-satisfied with his murder and was more than happy to brag about it to his friends (Roper v. Simmons, 2005). He specifically told them that the killed a woman because she was able to identify him, referring to her as a bitch (Roper v. Simmons, 2005). By the next day, the police were made aware of what Simmons did, and arrested him at school. At the police station, he waived his rights and after a short interrogation, Simmons confessed to the murder (Roper v. Simmons, 2005). He also agreed to make a video reenactment of exactly what happened (Roper v. Simmons, 2005). At 17 years old, Simmons was charged with burglary, kidnapping, theft, and 1st degree murder. In Missouri, Simmons was tried as an adult being that he was 17 years old and committed murder (Roper v. Simmons, 2005). His confession and reenactment were used against him at trial as well as other evidence such as his planning it out and bragging about it (Roper v. Simmons, 2005). The jury convicted him of murder. The prosecution sought the death penalty arguing that Simmons murdered for money, to prevent being arrested, and his actions were simply evil and cold-blooded. Family members of the victim made compelling arguments as well (Roper v. Simmons, 2005). The defense tried to convince the court the death penalty should not be sought and presented family testimony showing that Simmons had the ability to love by taking responsibility for his brothers and grandmother. They also showed that he had no prior record (Roper v. Simmons, 2005). Both sides argued Simmons age to benefit their sides. Both the jury and judge agreed the death penalty was appropriate (Roper v. Simmons,

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Then bragged to his friends about it because she seen his face. When Simmons was taken into custody, he admitted everything on a videotape. Outcome: Simmons was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. However, he appealed his conviction twice and the Missouri Supreme Court sentenced him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or release except by governor act, while setting aside the death sentence.

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Simmons is that the Supreme Court affirmed Mr. Simmons’s appeal holding that executing juvenile offenders under the age of 18 years old does indeed violate the 8th Amendment. Additionally, along with repealing the death sentence on Christopher Simmons, the Supreme Court also repealed death sentences of many others who committed crimes as juveniles under the age of 18. Upon taking a stance whether I disagree or agree with the ruling is a tough decision, however, I agree with the life without parole sentencing. There is a certain standard of decency and morality when sentencing juvenile offenders and executing minors would be considered “cruel and unusual punishment” as prohibited by the 8th Amendment. It would be disproportionate.

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Christopher Simmons was a seventeen year old juvenile from Missouri whom in 1993 along with two of his friends, Charles Benjamin and John Tessmer, planned to rob and murder Shirley Crook in her home (Roper v. Simmons, 2004). On the night the crime was to be committed, Tessmer pulled out of the plan, and Simmons and Benjamin would continue on as planned. The two broke into the Ms. Crook’s home, robbed her, tied her up, covered up her eyes, then drove her to a state park and threw her off a bridge. During the trial, evidence, videotaped reenactment and testimony outlining the premeditated plan, allowed for the jury to easily convict Simmons of the crime. Even though Simmons had no previous criminal record and was a minor at the time the crime was committed,

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In the days leading up to the crime Christopher Simmons would pressure his peers, Charlie Benjamin and John Tessmer, into assisting him in committing a crime. He wanted to burglarize a home and commit murder by tying up the victim and throwing them off of a bridge.. He told them that they could get away with it because they were all under eighteen meaning that no matter what they did they couldn’t get the death sentence. Christopher Simmons came up with the idea to break into the home of Shirley Crook, and without telling the others about it also had planned to murder her as well. The trio met up at Brian Moomey’s house, a local convicted felon who allowed teens to hang out on his property.

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