We do not permit children to conduct these activities because we believe that they lack the capacity to fully appreciate the consequences of their actions. The failure of states to follow the American Bar Association's policy against executing juvenile offenders led, in part, to the call by the Association for the discontinuation of executions until each jurisdiction implements certain basic protections. Another major factor in the Association's call for the halt to executions has been the poor level of legal representation received by many death row inmates. Some have argued that when children commit an adult crime they deserve this ultimate adult punishment. However, the purposes ostensibly served by capital punishment of adults are not served by the execution of juveniles.
Retribution is also an unsatisfactory justification for the juvenile death penalty.
A child simply cannot be held to the same degree of culpability and accountability for his or her actions to which we hold an adult. Executing Alexander Williams, and others on death row for their crimes committed as children, serves no principled purpose and only demeans our system of justice. We urge you to commute Alexander Williams death sentence.