Individuals with intellectual disabilities are only allowed to be sentenced to death for homicide.
Roper v. Simmons found this sentencing to be unconstitutional.
It is considered cruel and unusual, because by the nature of their diagnosis, these individuals have a lessened ability to understand the severity of their crimes.
They are not over the age of 18, so they cannot understand the severity of their crimes.
1 answer
The correct response is: It is considered cruel and unusual, because by the nature of their diagnosis, these individuals have a lessened ability to understand the severity of their crimes.
This is based on the Supreme Court ruling in Atkins v. Virginia, which determined that executing individuals with intellectual disabilities constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, violating the Eighth Amendment.
