nile death penalty. Each juvenile deals with this stress in a different way, however, because of this stress, many adolescents act impulsively at times. Stephen Harper a veteran public defender in Miami-Dade County states, ”This is not a moral or legal fact-It’s a scientific fact. Scientifically you can’t hold them (juveniles) to the same standard as an adult who commits the same crime.”(Bell)Finally not only does the death penalty hold no deterrent for juveniles but in some cases acts as an incentive for crime. This can happen for two separate reasons. The first deals with the peer pressure previously mentioned. Because death is seen as "the highest price to pay" the committing of a crime that would warrant the death penalty could put a juvenile in a position to gain great respect from his peers. The second deals with the hypocrisy also previously mentioned. With the state-legitimizing killing as it does, some minors are compelled and encouraged to commit crime. It is as though they feel no responsibility to abide by the laws the government sets down when that government doesn't follow them itself. The problems surrounding the death penalty go far beyond the actual juveniles affected by it. Though the debate over its justification as well as the actual carrying out of an execution affects all of society. These effects range from the millions being spent on the appeals process to the racist way it is carried out. Whatever the effect may be, it is not something that can be swept under the rug. These are issues which are present in everyone's life. Proponents of the death penalty like it because it saves billions compared to life in prison. That would be true if one were comparing the cost of electricity for the electric chair, or the price of rope for a hanging. Unfortunately these are not the only costs involved with putting a person to death. There are a countless number of appeals granted in every capital case...
