Author Question: Does the Supreme Court allow the execution of juvenile inmates? What will be an ideal ... (Read 54 times)

rosent76 · **on:** Aug 17, 2018

Does the Supreme Court allow the execution of juvenile inmates?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Does the Supreme Court allow the execution of mentally impaired inmates? Explain.

What will be an ideal response?

cascooper22 · **Reply #1 on:** Aug 17, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The United States is one of the few nations that have executed juvenile offenders. In 2005, in the case of Roper v. Simmons, the Court held that executing those who commit crimes as juveniles is neither consistent with the Constitution nor in keeping with the standards of a civilized society.

Answer to Question 2

For the most part, the Supreme Court does not seem to support the execution of mentally impaired inmates. In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled in Atkins v. Virginia that the execution of the mentally retarded was unconstitutional. In Ford v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court ruled again that the Eighth Amendment prohibits the state from executing people with mental illness because the accused person must understand that he or she has been sentenced to death and the reasoning behind the decision.