Pros And Cons Of The Death Penalty

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The death penalty can be imposed under certain conditions. These conditions include, but are not limited to possession of foreign or dangerous objects, obstruction or destruction of a vehicle, be it an aircraft, motor vehicle, etc., violations of Civil Rights, murder of a member of Congress, unauthorized spying, genocide of any sort, unlicensed/unauthorized transportation of explosives, treason against the United States (this can only be committed in a time of war, according to the Constitution), destruction of government property, murder involving: firearms, federal prisoners, government facilities, an airport, a member of the immediate family of a government official (parents, siblings, spouse, children), kidnapping, or murder for-hire.

In 2005, in the Roper v. Simmons case, the Supreme Court of the United States decided that it is unconstitutional to impose the death penalty on a minor (a person of 17 years of age or younger) or to impose the death penalty on a person who committed a crime eligible for capital punishment when under the age of 17. In addition, in the Atkins v. Virginia case, the Supreme Court ruled that imposing the death penalty on a person who is mentally disadvantaged is cruel and unusual punishment, which is outlawed in the 8th amendment of the United States Constitution. …show more content…

Simmons case, a unique scenario had to be decided on. It is illegal to execute a minor in the United States, but Simmons was 17 at the time of the murder. The court sat on their decision until he turned 18, at which time he was sentenced to death. Then, after a series of appeals and petitions requesting that his sentence be repealed, reasoning that the Constitution prohibits the execution of a person who committed a capital crime while under the age of 18, as determined by the Atkins v. Virginia case, his sentence was repealed and was subsequently replaced by a sentence of natural life in prison with no chance of pardon or early

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