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Juvenile Justice System Essay

597 Words3 Pages

In the beginning of the 20th century, many visionaries strived to recreate American government. They fought for it to become more just, fair, and ethical for all citizens. Visionaries realized that adult courts, laws and policies were too harsh and cruel for juveniles. Because of this, they believed that juveniles should have their own courts, laws, and policies. In the early 20th century, juvenile courts started to appear in America due to the realization that juveniles are not the same as adults. The juvenile justice system was created in order to lead youth away from the adult justice system and more towards a rehabilitative approach than retributive. Sending juvenile delinquents to adult prisons can cause issues for them. Being in the adult …show more content…

In the court case of Roper v. Simmons, Simmons, who was seventeen at the time he committed murder, believed that it would violate his 8th amendment rights if he were to be sentenced to death. The 8th amendment as part of the United States Constitution prohibits the use of cruel and unusual punishments and sentences. The United States Supreme Court in Roper v. Simmons ruled in favor of Simmons. The United States Supreme Court explained that sentencing a minor to death was indeed cruel and unusual punishment In March 2005, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty for those who had committed their crimes less than 18 years of age was cruel and unusual punishment and hence barred by the Constitution. Since then, there have been new scientific discoveries that show juveniles should not be charged and prosecuted the same way as adults. According to research performed by the Harvard Medical School, the National Institute of Mental Health and the UCLA's Department of Neuroscience have discovered that the frontal and pre-frontal lobes of the brain are not fully developed in juveniles. These parts of the brain help determine impulse control and judgment. Maturation is not reached until the ages of eighteen and twenty two. This means youth are more likely to act irrationally, make abrupt decisions and choices, and do not think about the after effects that their

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In reviewing the Supreme Court case of Roper v. Simmons 543 U.S. 551 (2005), we review the allegation of the violation of the Eighth Amendment in the trial court’s use of cruel and unusual punishment in its sentencing of Christopher Simmons; who was a juvenile at the time of the crime; to a sentence of death. In reviewing the facts of the case, we find that Christopher Simmons, then 17 and a junior in high school, along with Charles Benjamin and John Tessmer, planned the commission of a burglary with the intent to commit murder under the perception that they were minors and as such would be able to get away with the crimes. Upon his capture, Simmons, admitted to the crimes and provided law enforcement with the details of the crimes. Because of his age and the nature of the crime, Simmons was considered to be

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Roper v. Simmons was a Supreme Court case that occurred in 2004. The case was deciding whether or not minors over the age of fifteen were allowed to be sentenced to death. Christopher Simmons was given the death sentence at seventeen years old. He felt that he should not have been given the death penalty because he was not yet an adult. Simmons said that this was violating his Eighth Amendment rights.

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Case: Roper v. Simmons (2005) Rule of the Case: The decision in which the Supreme Court held that it is unconstitutional to impose capital punishment for crimes committed under the age of 18. Facts: In Missouri, Christopher Simmons, age 17, made a plan to murder someone and bring along two of his friends, and one friend ended up dropping out. The plan was to break in and enter, tie up the victim, and toss the victim off a bridge. The case was brought to trial with exceeding evidence. Simmons confessed to the murder, videotaped reenactment of the crime, and testimony from Tessmer, the friend who backed out, that premeditation was involved.

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460 Words | 2 Pages

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780 Words | 4 Pages

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I feel and believe that Colorado’s Justice System has become increasingly harsh and punitive over time because juvenile is committing more crimes and murder. I feel that Colorado’s Justice System is becoming harsh and punitive over time because the juvenile is exhibiting such characteristics such as not caring and engage in risking behavior such as committing crimes such as murder, robbery, and other horrible crimes. I feel and believe that it could deter some of the juvenile crime problem but I don’t believe it will fixed the juvenile crime problem because it will still be juvenile that will still commit crimes .I feel having harsh and punitive is a good thing when dealing with juvenile who have been sentence life without parole it will show

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