The Supreme Court has decided that the death penalty q,
A. May be applied only to acts of
B. May not be applied to those who were under 18 ?when they committed a crime
C. Is always cruel and unusual punishment
D. Is never cruel and unusual punishment
E. None of the above
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is:
B. May not be applied to those who were under 18 when they committed a crime.
Explanation:
The United States Supreme Court ruled in Roper v. Simmons (2005) that the death penalty may not be applied to individuals who were under the age of 18 at the time they committed their crime. This decision was a significant interpretation of the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits “cruel and unusual punishments.”
The case involved Christopher Simmons, who was sentenced to death for a murder he committed when he was 17 years old. The Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled that executing minors violated the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.
The majority opinion, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, emphasized several key points:
- Juveniles lack the same level of maturity and sense of responsibility as adults, making them less culpable.
- Adolescents are more vulnerable to negative influences and peer pressure.
- The character of a juvenile is not as well-formed as that of an adult, and thus there is a greater potential for rehabilitation.
The Court also cited international norms and practices, noting that most countries had already banned the execution of minors. By aligning U.S. law with these standards, the Court strengthened the nation’s commitment to human rights.
This decision does not mean that juveniles cannot be tried as adults or receive life sentences, but it prohibits the most severe punishment—the death penalty—for those under 18.
Other answer choices are incorrect:
- A is incomplete and vague.
- C and D are overly broad and incorrect generalizations. The Court has not ruled the death penalty as always or never cruel and unusual.
- E is incorrect because B is the correct and complete answer.
Thus, answer B is the most accurate and legally supported choice.
