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Constitutionality of Executing Juvenile Offenders: Thompson v. Oklahoma

NCJ Number
110432
Journal
Criminal Law Bulletin Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: (March-April 1988) Pages: 91-125
Author(s)
S N Gersten
Date Published
1988
Length
35 pages
Annotation
After a brief summary of the juvenile justice system in this country, the article discusses the Supreme Court precedents to Thompson v. Oklahoma, the Thompson case itself, and the eighth amendment issues involved.
Abstract
The Supreme Court has heard oral arguments, and will soon release its opinion, in Thompson v. Oklahoma, a case questioning the constitutionality of executing a person for a crime committed while he was a juvenile. The author concludes that the death penalty for a juvenile crime is unconstitutional. (Publisher abstract)