High Court Ends Death Penalty for Youths

Rascus · 03-01-2005, 11:20 PM

Not too sure how I feel about this. I think it should be a case by case basis. You can't put an age out there where the kid knows what he's doing. Tough issue.

Complete Story

WASHINGTON - A closely divided Supreme Court outlawed the death penalty for juvenile criminals on Tuesday, declaring there was a national consensus such executions were unconstitutionally cruel and ending a practice that had brought international condemnation.

The 5-4 decision, which overturns a 1989 high court ruling, throws out the death sentences of 72 murderers who committed their crimes as juveniles and bars states from seeking to execute others. Nineteen states had allowed death sentences for killers who committed their crimes when they were under 18.

The ruling was greeted with enthusiasm by numerous death penalty opponents, here and abroad.

Justice Anthony Kennedy (news - web sites), writing for the majority, said many juveniles lack maturity and intellectual development to understand the ramifications of their actions.

"The age of 18 is the point where society draws the line for many purposes between childhood and adulthood. It is, we conclude, the age at which the line for death eligibility ought to rest," Kennedy said.

The United States has stood almost alone in the world in officially sanctioning juvenile executions, a "stark reality" that can't be ignored, Kennedy wrote. Juvenile offenders have been put to death in recent years in only a few other countries, including Iran (news - web sites), Pakistan, China and Saudi Arabia.

"It is proper that we acknowledge the overwhelming weight of international opinion against the juvenile death penalty, resting in large part on the understanding that the instability and emotional imbalance of young people may often be a factor in the crime," Kennedy wrote.

Jackal79 · 03-01-2005, 11:36 PM

I don't like that. It should be a case by case basis. If they rate it, let them burn - reguardless of how old they are.

12RPilot · 03-02-2005, 05:43 AM

This is scary not for the ultimate outcome, but because of the way the decision was reached. To base a decision on the opinions of other countries is heading down a slippery slope that we should avoid at all costs. Why not just base our laws on a U.N. approved constitution?

UberGoober · 03-02-2005, 06:34 AM

Looks like a good thread for the polictics forum...

jim schmidt · 03-02-2005, 09:51 AM

In general, I support the death penalty as a risk management strategy (but not as a punishment.)

This decision is absolutely the right call. The fact that the US trails even totalitarian countries -- every country -- in getting here is relevant. Even dictators can understand that there is no compelling reason why we need to kill our children. But it would be a mistake to think that the entire ruling rests on that point.

It's still far from a free ride. They can still be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

I read people's moral/philosophical objections. Does anyone have any practical objections?

E-Rawk · 03-02-2005, 11:34 AM

Life in Prison is a free ride as far as I"m concerned. I don't want my tax dollars supporting a Known and CONVICTED criminal I don't care who or how old they are. They aren't paying their debt to society in prison they're putting a strain on it. I'd much rather see whatever percentage of my taxes go to the prisons to support these people go to something like a college fund for kids I don't know. Instead we have to now support someone who will in my eyes be a burden to society for the rest of their lives not to mention if they do get out the possibility of going back into a life of crime is a 50% chance. I will agree that some criminals leave prison reformed but I can't say that most or all of them do.

snakemann · 03-02-2005, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmkreutzer

Looks like a good thread for the polictics forum...

+ 1

BrownRob · 03-02-2005, 12:10 PM

Only thing I have to do is think about some 16 year old kid killing my daughter to come up with the opinion that I want that kid put to death... No pleas, no life sentence... just give me the gun and I'll do it myself.

But is there is difference between a 6 year old killing someone and a 16 year old? I think so.. it should be a case by case decision.. and not a blanket law that protects all minors.

jim schmidt · 03-02-2005, 01:16 PM

We believe they are not responsible enough to drink, vote, have civil rights, live independently, serve in the military, even work. This decision is perfectly consistent with these other values.

And if you think prison is a free ride, you've never set foot in one, for even a moment.

Ibleedgreen · 03-02-2005, 01:18 PM

Don't you people realize that the judicial system is a flawless body and DOES NOT make mistakes, or stupid judgments???

Jammin_Johnny · 03-02-2005, 01:22 PM

Let's move this to the Politics sub-forum.........Someone

Rascus · 03-02-2005, 01:40 PM

What is political about this? Just because it's a ruling in court?

This should be in the open forums where everyone can discuss it because this in turn could affect someone on here.

MODS, feel free to move. I just figured this would be the better forum.

wolfman · 03-02-2005, 05:26 PM

What amazes me is they have a 17 year old kid that kidnapped a mother, duct taped her hands and feet and then threw her into a river. It was a cold calculated move, and now he will get the chance to live a life in prison at 40,000 a year burden to us because " he did not know it was wrong." Wake up people, the youth of today are becoming more violent and mature then we were at that age.

jim schmidt · 03-02-2005, 05:56 PM

Would you support lowering the drinking, driving, contracting, and independence ages as well?

UberGoober · 03-02-2005, 10:09 PM

Supreme court is one of the three branches of govt. Govt? Hmmm? Sounds like politics to me....