James Echols And The Juvenile Death Penalty

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America is no stranger for juveniles being tried as adults. The first known case being in 1642; Thomas Granger, 16, who had sex with a mare, cow and some goats was hanged in Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts.1 He was America's first documented execution of a child offender and the debut of the juvenile death penalty.1 The youngest girl to be executed was 12-year-old Hannah Ocuish who was hanged for killing a 6-year-old white child in 1786.1 Finally, James Echols, was the last execution in 1964 who was executed for rape two years later at the age of 19.1 After Echols executions 21 years later laws changed and capital punishment popularity was decreasing. In 1974, juveniles were once again back on the death row. Three decades later the U.S Supreme

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