Question

In 1893, in __________, the U.S. Supreme Court rule that a child younger than age 7 could not be guilty of a felony or punished for a capital offense because it is presumed that he or she is incapable of forming criminal intent?

a) Miranda v. Arizona
b) Roper v. Simmons
c) In re Gault
d) Thompson v. Oklahoma

Answer 1

In the case of Roper v. Simmons, the Supreme Court ruled that offenders who committed a crime before the age of 18 cannot be sentenced to death. This ruling considers the moral culpability and capacity for reform of juveniles. It was based on the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.