Quote:
From the article:
A filing from the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association and other leading medical organizations said that new research shows that areas of the brain responsible for impulse control and moral reasoning do not fully mature until age 18 or beyond.
"The adolescent's mind works differently from ours. Parents know it. This court has said it. Legislatures have presumed it for decades or more. And now, new scientific evidence sheds light on the differences," the medical groups said.
"Older adolescents are not simply miniature adults, with less experience or wisdom," the groups said. "They are also not as equipped as adults to engage in moral reasoning and adjust their conduct accordingly."
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I find this bit of information compelling but also perplexing. If some brains dont finish developing til after the age of 18, how does making 18 the age that ones crimes become 'executionable' solve this dilema?
The community standard is that people aren't treated like "full" adults til they turn 21 and can consume alcohol legally. 18 is the age a peron can vote and in most palces a person can drive when they are 16.
It makes sense to me that the DP age, considering how permanent and serious an execution is, should be 21 simply because it is the highest standard we apply to determine adulthood. 18 would be the compromise as it is the 'official' age of adulthood. 16 and 17 year olds will still be punished for their crimes, no matter how serious or minor, but should be exempt from execution.
Of course one can use the argument found in the OP that young criminals will feel enabled to commit crimes because they think they will not recieve punishment. This is not exactly true though. Punishment will still be dealt for underage murderers, just not the punishment of death.
Another consideration with young offenders is the greater long term potential for rehabilitation after serving punishment. This is an argument that falls on the deaf ears for those who think that criminals should be punished, and not rehabilitated.