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Juveniles

BOOKS: "Anatomy of an Execution"

Posted: January 06, 2010
in

A new book authored by Todd Peppers and Laura Trevvett Anderson, "Anatomy of An Execution," follows the story of Douglas Christopher Thomas, a juvenile offender who was executed in Virginia in 2000.  Thomas was convicted of a double homicide in 1990 and sentenced to death in 1991. He was one of the last juveniles put to death before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the execution of those under the age of 18 at the time of their crime to be unconstitutional in 2005 (Roper v. Simmons). The authors explore a variety of death penalty issues surrounding the case, including the quality of court-appointed counsel, conditions on death row, and the reasons for excluding the execution of juveniles.  The book was published by Northeastern University Press.

Florida Inmate Who Faced Death Penalty at 15 to be Freed 26 Years Later

Posted: September 10, 2009
in

Anthony Caravello was convicted of rape and murder for a crime he allegedly committed in 1983 at age 15 in Florida.  The prosecution sought the death penalty. Now DNA evidence from the crime scene points to another individual and may result in his exoneration.  The state is not contesting his release.  Caravello has an IQ of 67 and was convicted largely on the basis of his own statements, which he says were obtained from him after beatings during his interrogation.  At his sentencing, the judge commented, "I'll tell you this, Anthony: If the jury had recommended death, I would have had you electrocuted."  Instead, he was sentenced to life.  The prosecution is still pursuing the investigation.

NOW PLAYING IN NY: “The Two Lives of Napoleon Beazley,” a Play by John Fleming

Posted: February 27, 2008
in
“The Two Lives of Napoleon Beazley” is a new play by John Fleming that explores the true story of a 17-year-old African-American defendant who was sentenced to death for a carjacking and murder in Texas. The victim was the father of a federal judge. Using a variety of factual resources, including court transcripts and media accounts, the play examines race and the criminal justice system before the Supreme Court ruled in 2005 that the death penalty for juveniles violates the Constitution.

Former Death Row Inmate Acquitted at Re-Trial

Posted: October 06, 2005
in
A jury in Arizona acquitted Christopher Huerstel of first-degree murder and of attempted armed robbery of a Tucson pizzeria in which 3 people were killed.  Huerstel, who was 17-years-old at the time the crime was committed, was orignally convicted along with a co-defendant and both were sentenced to death in 2001.  His conviction was overturned by the Arizona Supreme Court because of errors by the trial judge.  The jury at the re-trial was unable to reach a verdict on second-degree murder, and Huerstel may face another trial on that charge.   The defense claims that the prosecution had

Texas Governor Commutes 28 Juvenile Offender Death Sentences

Posted: June 23, 2005
in
Texas Governor Rick Perry (pictured) has commuted the death sentences of 28 juvenile offenders to life in prison, an act that brings the state into compliance with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that deemed the practice of executing those who were under 18 at the time of their crime unconstitutional. While some of these inmates will remain in more restrictive segregation, many will have their first exposure to prison work programs, schooling, and jobs within a prison unit.

Supreme Court Bans Execution of Juvenile Offenders

Posted: February 21, 2005
in
By a vote of 5-4, the U.S. Supreme Court has declared the execution of juvenile offenders to be unconstitutional. Today's historic ruling in Roper v. Simmons holds that this practice violates the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishments. The decision will result in a new sentence for Christopher Simmons and likely new sentences for the 71 other juvenile offenders currently on state death rows across the country.

NEW RESOURCE: Study Examines Mental Status and Childhood Backgrounds of Juveniles on Death Row

Posted: February 02, 2005
in
A recent study of 18 juvenile offenders on death row in Texas found that nearly all participants experienced serious head traumas in childhood and adolescence, came from extremely violent and/or abusive families, had one or more severe mental illnesses, and had signs of prefrontal brain dysfunction. The study, conducted by Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis of Yale along with other experts, suggests that most of the juvenile offenders on America's death rows suffer from serious conditions which "substantially exacerbate the already existing vulnerabilities of youth." In the study, Dr.

Arizona Case Exposes Prosecutorial Misconduct and Wrongful Convictions

Posted: January 11, 2005
in
In an examination of the case against three men sentenced to death for a triple murder that occurred in Tucson's El Grande Market, reporter Jeffrey Toobin in the New Yorker describes the incidents that led to the fall of the lead prosecutor, Kenneth Peasley, for presenting false evidence in the case. Only one of the co-defendants, Martin Soto-Fong, remains on Arizona's death row.

Psychiatrists Question Death for Teen Killers

Posted: May 26, 2004
in
Psychiatrists Question Death for Teen Killers
By PAUL DAVIES
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
May 26, 2004; Page B1

In 1993, when 17-year-old Christopher Simmons abducted and murdered his neighbor, little did he know that some of the nation's top brain researchers and psychiatrists would one day rush to his defense before the Supreme Court.

New research shows stark differences in teen brains

Posted: May 19, 2004
in

May 11, 2004:     Scripps Howard News Service

New research shows stark differences in teen brains

By Lee Bowman

Recent popular films depicting teenagers suddenly housed in adult bodies have more than a little truth in them.

The latest brain research has found strong evidence that when it comes to maturity, organization and control, key parts of the brain related to emotions, judgment and "thinking ahead" are the last to arrive.

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