Simmons Death Penalty

The death penalty has been used as a form of punishment for decades, but determining whether it is constitutional or not has been a result. In this particular case that took place 1993, Christopher Simmons committed a crime at the age of 17. Simmons was assisted by his friend Charles Benjamin. It was previously confirmed that Simmons had said he wanted to commit murder and confessing“...to commit burglary and murder by breaking and entering, tying up a victim, and throwing the victim off a bridge. Simmons assured his friends they could “get away with it” because they were minors” ("ROPER V. SIMMONS.”). The victim was said to been in a car accident previously with Simmons and the night the murder took place, Simmons recognized the victim as

The main point that is made is that people find it just inhumane and goes against the constitution. But another side that states it is unconstitutional to sentence a minor to death looks at things more scientifically or literal and less emotionally. “UCLA's Department of Neuroscience finds that the frontal and pre-frontal lobes of the brain, which regulate impulse control and judgment, are not fully developed in adolescents” (Juveniles and the Death Penalty). The reasoning of this is to show that adolescents are easily manipulated and influenced by outside forces and would be convinced to make bad decisions. Studies have been conducted, and majority of people vote that it is inhumane for a juvenile to be sentenced to death. Another point that is made is the possibility of a criminal being falsely accused, and still being put to death. In other terms,’Another very genuine concern is that a person convicted of the murder may have actually killed the victim and may admit having done so but does not agree that the killing was first degree murder” (Arguments for and against the Death Penalty in the USA). The issue stands where if the person convicted was falsely accused, but was already killed, then an injustice was created. Although, in this particular case, Christopher Simmons

As of 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that the it is cruel and unusual punishment to sentence a minor. Although, The United States has had a history of killing juveniles for their crimes. “The first instance of juvenile execution took place in Massachusetts in 1642, before United States’ formally became a sovereign nation” (Juveniles and the Death Penalty). The only arguable point made in people that favor the death penalty is “...one that favored death penalty for juveniles because the capital crimes they commit are sometimes even worse than those committed by the grown criminals,” (Juveniles and the Death