Entries by Claire Moustafellos

This month marks the 20^th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roper v. Simmons. In a series of posts anticipating the April 2025 release of DPI’s report commemorating the 20^th Anniversary of the Roper decision and its implications for emerging adults , we are exploring scientific and legal developments related to juveniles and emerging adults in the death penalty system. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) refer to potentially traumatic events and circumstances that…

Twenty years ago this month, the Supreme Court in its landmark decision Roper v. Simmons found capital punishment for individuals under 18 years of age unconstitutional under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. In explaining their decision, the Court drew in part on “scientific and sociological” studies showing that a lack of maturity in youth can lead to “impetuous and ill-considered actions and decisions,” which supported the idea that this cohort were less culpable and therefore should not…