Juvenile Death Penalty Today: Present Death Row Inmates Under Juvenile Death Sentences and Death Sentences and Executions for Juvenile Crimes, January 11, 1973 to December 31, 1992

• NCJ Number: 141107
• Author(s): V L Streib
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Cleveland State University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report presents historical background and an analysis of data regarding the sentencing of juveniles to capital punishment from 1973 through 1992.

Abstract

Since the first condemned juvenile was executed in 1642, approximately 363 persons have been executed for juvenile crimes, amounting to 2 percent of the total of 18,500 confirmed executions in the United States since 1608. Five of these executions took place during the current era, 1973-92. These 5 recent executions are only 2.6 percent of the total of 189 executions through the end of 1992, a somewhat higher rate than had been experienced before 1973. Since 1973, a total of 114 juvenile death sentences have been imposed, only 2.4 percent of the total of the approximately 4,741 death sentences imposed for offenders of all ages. Two thirds of these juvenile death sentences were imposed on 17-year-old offenders. Only 34 remain currently in force and are currently under litigation; 75 have been reversed. All 34 current juvenile death row inmates are male, and a slight majority are minority offenders. More than two-thirds of the victims were white, and half were females. Tables and appended charts describing individual offenders and cases are included.