A juvenile cannot be sentenced to the death penalty unless they have been charged as an adult in a capital crime. The United States Supreme Court prohibits children aged 15 and younger from receiving the death penalty. However, some states allow children aged 16 or older to be charged as an adult and potentially receive the death penalty. Other states set that age at 17 or 18 years old. Whether or not the death penalty can be given depends on the specific crime and the state in which the crime was committed.