2. In 1993, Christopher Simmons conspired with
friends to burglarize and murder Shirley Cook.
Simmons and a friend kidnapped Cook, bound
her with duct tape and cord, and threw her in a
river.
Convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to
death.
Simmons appeal reached the Supreme Court in 2004
Argued that the death penalty for juveniles was a
violation of the Eighth Amendment (protection
against cruel and unusual punishment)
Roper v. Simmons-
Background
3. Ruled that the execution of people who were under 18
at the time of their crimes violates the federal
constitutional guarantee against cruel and unusual
punishments
The Court cited new sociological and scientific research
showing the difference between juveniles and adults:
A lack of maturity and an underdeveloped sense of
responsibility. These qualities often result in impulsive
and reckless actions and decisions.
Juveniles are more vulnerable or susceptible to negative
influences and outside pressures, including peer pressure
The character of a juvenile is not as well formed as that of
an adult. The personality traits of juveniles are less fixed.
Roper v. Simmons (2005) Decision
4. Evan Miller at 14 years old with a friend
robbed his neighbor, beat him up, and set the
neighbor’s trailer on fire with him inside.
Kuntrell Jackson at age 14 years old with two
friends robbed a video store and shot the store’s
clerk.
Both were convicted and sentenced to life
without the possibility of parole.
Miller v. Alabama and
Jackson v. Hobbs- Background
5. The two consolidated cases were heard by the
Supreme Court
Supreme Court ruled that life without parole
sentences for juvenile homicide offenders was a
violation of the Eighth Amendment.
Citing that juvenile offenders have “diminished
culpability and greater prospects for reform.”
A lot of the reasoning for the decision came from
the Roper v. Simmons case.
Miller v. Alabama and
Jackson v. Hobbs (2012)
Decision
6. A look at the teen
brain
Why are juveniles considered less
responsible for their actions?
What is the research that the
Supreme Court cites?
