Argument: The death penalty should not be applied to individuals younger than 25 years old due to ongoing brain development and a higher risk of wrongful convictions.

Brain Development:

• The prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and future planning, continues to develop significantly into the mid-twenties. Research by the National Academy of Sciences emphasizes that adolescents and young adults exhibit greater risk-taking behavior and may not fully grasp the consequences of their actions compared to older adults.
• A 2016 study published in Nature Neuroscience found that the brain’s gray matter volume, which is associated with cognitive function and emotional regulation, continues to increase in young adults until around age 25.

Risk of Wrongful Convictions:

• Juveniles and young adults are more susceptible to pressure from law enforcement during interrogations, potentially leading to false confessions.
• A 2014 study by the National Registry of Exonerations found that individuals under 25 at the time of the crime accounted for a significant portion of wrongful convictions later overturned due to new evidence.

Alternatives to the Death Penalty:

• Life imprisonment without parole offers a just punishment for severe crimes while eliminating the risk of irreversible mistakes associated with the death penalty.
• Focusing on restorative justice programs that emphasize rehabilitation and victim reconciliation could be a more productive approach.

Conclusion:

Raising the age limit for the death penalty to 25 allows for a more nuanced approach to punishment, considering the ongoing development of the brain and the heightened risk of wrongful convictions for younger individuals. Alternative punishments like life imprisonment can achieve justice without the inherent risk of executing an innocent person.