Attorney Toolkit
The Science | The Law |
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• The human brain continues to develop well into young adulthood. • Teenagers and young adults are especially likely to make risky decisions because of their stage of brain development. • Teenagers and young adults often don’t understand the full consequences of their actions. • Young first-time offenders are less likely to commit crimes again. | • In 2005, The U.S. Supreme Court banned the death penalty for people under age 18 in the case Roper v. Simmons, but young adults older than 18 are still eligible for capital punishment. • In 2010, The U.S. Supreme Court in Graham v. Florida banned sentencing juveniles to life without the possibility of parole for any crime except homicide. It is still available for homicide cases and for young adults over age 18. • In 2012, The U.S. Supreme Court in Miller v. Alabama banned sentencing juveniles to mandatory life without parole even in cases where juveniles are convicted of homicide. • As of 2024, 28 states and the District of Columbia banned sentencing people under age 18 to life without parole. |