“When a minor commits a heinous crime, the State can claim the confiscation of the most fundamental freedoms, but the State cannot extinguish life of a minor and its potential to achieve a mature understanding of the death penalty. his own humanity. - (United States Supreme Court: Roper v. Simmons- No. 03-633, 2005) In the case of Roper v. Simmons, courts have observed that minors are not adults, lack responsibilities, and can easily experience peer pressure. (Champion, 2013) There are many different factors that attribute to the actions of juvenile offenders, most of which are not entirely within their control. Three main factors: 1) Brain development hinders juveniles' ability to refrain from impulsive behavior. 2) Most young offenders were raised in an unstimulating environment. 3) The possibility of the death penalty does not have much effect on minors. Medical research indicates that the part of the brain that controls impulsivity in adolescents is not fully developed until the early 20s, so young people are desensitized to dangerous behaviors. It is unfortunate that most juveniles who commit violent crimes are prone to self-destruction. A child raised in a broken home, lacking care, love and discipline, is more likely to commit violent crimes: lack of maturity and ability to understand the repercussions of their actions, such as a possible death sentence , are a concept foreign to minors. (Streib, 2004) Considering the above factors, the application of the death penalty to juveniles should be considered cruel and unusual punishment. When a minor commits a heinous crime, he should be punished to the extent necessary, but not put to death. Putting the minor to death doesn't help anyone, it doesn't help the victim heal...... middle of paper ......ddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2013. Print.Ortiz, Adam. “Cruel and unusual punishment: The juvenile death penalty, adolescence, brain development, and legal culpability.” » Juvenile Justice Center (January 2004): n. page. American Bar Association. January 2004. Web. December 11, 2013. .Crocker, Phyllis L. “Childhood Abuse and Adult Murder: Implications for the Death Penalty.” Articles and essays (1999): n. page. http://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/. January 1, 1999. Web. December 11, 2013. http://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1278&context=fac_articles Rosenblatt, Roger. “Kayla’s Murder.” Time Magazine March 5, 2000: n. page. Internet. December 12. 2013. ..