Juveniles and the Death Penalty As a society, we recognize that
children, those under 18 years old, can not and do not function
as adults. That is why the law takes special steps to protect
children from the consequences of their actions and often seeks
to ameliorate the harm cause when children make wrong choices by
giving them a second chance. The law prohibits people under
eighteen from voting, serving in the military and on juries, but
in some states, they can be executed for crimes they committed
before they reach adulthood. The United States Supreme Court
prohibits execution for crimes committed at the age of fifteen
or younger. Nineteen states have laws permitting the execution
of persons who committed crimes at sixteen or seventeen. Since
1973, 226 juvenile death sentences have been imposed. Twenty-two
juvenile offenders have been executed and 82 remain on death
row. Make a Difference Your support helps the ACLU oppose
capital punishment and defend a broad range of civil liberties.
- On January 27, 20