Roper V. Simmons Case Study

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On September 9th, 1993 at around two in the morning, 17 year old Christopher Simmons, 15 year old Charlie Benjamin and 16 year old John Tessmer met at the home of 29 year old Brian Moomey. Moomey drove the three teens to the house of 46 year old Shirley Crook. Tessmer refused to go with them and ended up going back to his house. Simmons and Benjamin went to the back of Shirley Crook’s house, found a window and cracked it open. When they reached though to unlock the back door and entered the house, Simmons turned on the hallway light. The light woke her and she yelled out, “Who’s there?” Simmons walked into her bedroom and told her to get out of bed and lay on the floor. They duct taped her mouth and eyes and wrapped an electrical cord around …show more content…

Simmons was bragging afterwards about the crime he had committed. Her body was found in the afternoon of September 9th by two fishermen. Simmons was arrested on September 10th at his high school. This then become known as the Roper v. Simmons court case.
During this case, there was a lot of debate on whether or not the death sentence was considered a cruel and unusual punishment to give to a minor. Simmons had several appeals that went to state and federal courts. They lasted until 2002 but each appeal was rejected. These courts held that when someone commits a crime under the age of 18 and is sentenced to death, it violates the 8th and 14th amendment. Both amendments also prohibit the execution of a mentally retarded person. Simmons was speculated to have mental illnesses. The Missouri Supreme Court agreed and set aside Simmons’ death sentence in favor of life imprisonment without eligibility for release. Before Roper v. Simmons could be sent to the Supreme Court, a petition had to be made. The arguments for the …show more content…

It was reported that the ages of 16 and 17 did not violate any rights awarded by the 8th Amendment. The courts were finding out that the United States Supreme Court which held that the 8th and the 14th amendment forbid the execution of offenders who were under the age of 18 when their crimes were committed, was no longer valid. Some people were arguing that Simmons was older than 15 but younger than 18 when he committed a capital crime which meant he should have known better. Roper v. Simmons was argued on October 13, 2004 and decided on March 1, 2005. I agree with the Supreme Court for resentencing Simmons to life in prison without probation, parole or release. After all, the only reason he committed this crime in the first place was because he thought he could get away with it. He was 17, one year away from being 18 which means you are now an adult so he definitely knew better. It seemed to me that he was just trying to impress people and then be able to brag about getting away with something as serious as murder. Shirley Crook was only 46 years old and had so many more years she could have lived if it wouldn't had been for Simmons trying to be “cool”. I do not think this case should have lasted as long as it did though. It started in 1993 and didn't end until 2005. Christopher Simmons is currently 41 and will remain in prison until the day he

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