In the context of Roper v. Simmons (2005), what did the Supreme Court decide about the death penalty?

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In Roper v. Simmons (2005), the Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty is unconstitutional for individuals who were under the age of 18 at the time they committed their crimes. This landmark decision was based on the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. The Court recognized that minors possess a lesser culpability than adults, due to their lack of maturity and greater susceptibility to negative influences. The ruling was a significant development in juvenile justice, emphasizing the need for rehabilitation rather than retribution for younger offenders. As a result, the Court effectively prohibited the use of the death penalty for individuals who were minors at the time of their offenses, affirming the principle that society should treat young people differently in the justice system.

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