When can juveniles who commit crimes be executed in states with juvenile death penalty laws?
THE JUVENILE DEATH PENALTY Background, analysis and critical thinking By Michelle Parrini, a Chicago-based editor and writer of teaching materials Subjects: Law, Government, Civics Time: Two Days Lesson Objectives: The purpose of this lesson is to teach students about the Eighth Amendment and how the U.S. Supreme Court makes determinations about what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment through the example of the death penalty for juveniles. Overview: On January 26, 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to reconsider whether the juvenile death penalty violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and usual punishment. The case will probably be heard by the court in October or November of 2004. During this lesson, students will read and discuss a NewsHour article and learn key facts about the juvenile death penalty in the U.S. Then students will discuss how the court has made decisions in the past about what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Finally, students will
