Are juveniles subject to the death penalty?

In California, juveniles (persons under the age of 18) are not subject to the death penalty. The United States Supreme Court has declared it unconstitutional to impose a death sentence on any person under the age of 18. This decision has been affirmed in several subsequent Supreme Court cases, including one in 2005 which barred the execution of juveniles. The death penalty is not an option when it comes to juvenile offenders. It is considered a violation of the 8th amendment of the United States Constitution which prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment.” In its 2005 ruling, the Supreme Court found that juveniles lack the sense of responsibility, judgment, and maturity of adults, and thus, cannot be held to the same moral standards that may be applied to adults. Juvenile offenders are instead subject to juvenile crimes law which focuses on rehabilitation and parental responsibility. For example, in California a juvenile may be tried as an adult if they are found to be involved in certain violent crimes. However, this will not involve the death penalty. Instead, the juvenile may be sentenced to a period of incarceration, community service, supervised probation, or fines. The goal is to rehabilitate the juvenile and reintegrate them with society.

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Are juveniles subject to the death penalty?

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