Debate about the use of the death penalty for juveniles has grown more intense because of the demand for harsher punishment for serious and violent juvenile offenders and numerous contentions to the death penalty's legality. A recent poll of Oklahoma residents revealed that 62.8% of those surveyed would support a legislative ban on the execution of juvenile offenders if the alternative sentencing option of life without the possibility of parole were offered (The Oklahoman). As the …showed first 75 words of 1173 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1173 total…the world combined carried out five such executions. Scott Hain was executed in Oklahoma on April 13 of this year, making the US the first country to execute a juvenile offender in 2003 (Death Penalty Info). Senator Feingold voiced, "I don't think we should be proud of the fact that the United States is the world leader in the execution of child offenders" (Death Penalty). Many agree and have to question, What has come to our country?