Why are individuals with intellectual disabilities not allowed to be sentenced to death?(1 point) Responses Roper v. Simmons found this sentencing to be unconstitutional. Roper v. Simmons found this sentencing to be unconstitutional. Individuals with intellectual disabilities are only allowed to be sentenced to death for homicide. Individuals with intellectual disabilities are only allowed to be sentenced to death for homicide. They are not over the age of 18, so they cannot understand the severity of their crimes. They are not over the age of 18, so they cannot understand the severity of their crimes. It is considered cruel and unusual, because by the nature of their diagnosis, these individuals have a lessened ability to understand the severity of their crimes.
The main reason why individuals with intellectual disabilities are not allowed to be sentenced to death is because it is considered cruel and unusual punishment. By the nature of their diagnosis, individuals with intellectual disabilities have a diminished ability to understand the severity of their crimes. This lack of understanding makes it unfair and unjust to impose the ultimate penalty of death on them. Additionally, the Supreme Court case Roper v. Simmons declared that sentencing individuals with intellectual disabilities to death is unconstitutional.
The main reason individuals with intellectual disabilities are not allowed to be sentenced to death is because it is considered cruel and unusual punishment. This is due to the nature of their diagnosis, as individuals with intellectual disabilities may have a limited ability to understand the severity of their actions or comprehend the consequences of their crimes. This understanding is based on the legal precedent set by the case Roper v. Simmons, which deemed such sentencing unconstitutional. It should be noted that individuals with intellectual disabilities can still be sentenced to death if they have committed homicide. However, their specific cognitive impairment is taken into consideration during the legal process.
The correct answer is: Individuals with intellectual disabilities are not allowed to be sentenced to death because it is considered cruel and unusual punishment. By the nature of their diagnosis, these individuals have a lessened ability to understand the severity of their crimes. This prohibition on executing individuals with intellectual disabilities is based on the principle of constitutional law that prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
To arrive at this answer, one can refer to the landmark case of Roper v. Simmons. This legal case, decided by the United States Supreme Court in 2005, held that the death penalty for individuals who committed their crimes while under the age of 18 is unconstitutional. While the case specifically dealt with juveniles, it set an important precedent regarding the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.
In determining whether a particular punishment is cruel and unusual, the court takes into account evolving standards of decency that reflect society's moral values. One factor that has been considered in this regard is the diminished culpability of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Due to their condition, these individuals may have impaired cognitive functioning, difficulty understanding complex situations, and limited decision-making abilities, including the ability to appreciate the consequences of their actions.
Therefore, sentencing individuals with intellectual disabilities to death is seen as unjust and inhumane, as it fails to take into account their reduced capacity for comprehension and their diminished moral culpability.