George Stinney Jr. was fourteen years old when he was convicted of first degree murder. They jury deliberated for a mere ten minutes before returning the guilty verdict. On June 16, 1944, he was executed, becoming the youngest person in modern times to be put to death. Stinney became the first juvenile to be executed in the twenty-first century. His execution illustrates a historical example of harsh sentencing for youth offenders. It has also set a persistence for more stringent laws for juvenile offenders. Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976, 22 people have been executed for crimes committed while they were under the age of 18. All of the 22 executed individuals were males. Twenty-one of them were age 17 when the crime occurred;
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Due to the long hours of immigrates, many of their children where left unsupervised. Immigrant children were left to roam the streets where they caused trouble. In response, early urban reformer established a system that lead to the today’s juvenile justice system. The New York House of Refuge, founded in 1824, was the first juvenile institution in the United States (Katel 922). Initial the juvenile justice system was designed to monitor "boys under a certain age who become subject to the notice of our police, either as vagrants, or homeless, or charged with petty crimes (Katel 922).” However, instead of traditional incarceration the boys were given a basic education and put to work, “while at the same time, they are subjected to a course of treatment, which will afford a prompt and energetic corrective of their vicious propensities (Katel 922)." These steps were done in an effort to help the children acclimate to society. By the late 1800s attributes towards juvenile crime and delinquency started to shift resulting in tougher laws. By the 1900s, laws were passed allowing a number for juvenile offenders to be tried as adults. From 1960 through 1980 “Youth advocates successfully challenge the constitutionality of juvenile court proceedings nationwide, but liberalization wave ebbs as youth crime skyrockets (Katel
Due to the long hours of immigrates, many of their children where left unsupervised. Immigrant children were left to roam the streets where they caused trouble. In response, early urban reformer established a system that lead to the today’s juvenile justice system. The New York House of Refuge, founded in 1824, was the first juvenile institution in the United States (Katel 922). Initial the juvenile justice system was designed to monitor "boys under a certain age who become subject to the notice of our police, either as vagrants, or homeless, or charged with petty crimes (Katel 922).” However, instead of traditional incarceration the boys were given a basic education and put to work, “while at the same time, they are subjected to a course of treatment, which will afford a prompt and energetic corrective of their vicious propensities (Katel 922)." These steps were done in an effort to help the children acclimate to society. By the late 1800s attributes towards juvenile crime and delinquency started to shift resulting in tougher laws. By the 1900s, laws were passed allowing a number for juvenile offenders to be tried as adults. From 1960 through 1980 “Youth advocates successfully challenge the constitutionality of juvenile court proceedings nationwide, but liberalization wave ebbs as youth crime skyrockets (Katel