Guest Essay Sept. 25, 2026 — Sophia Laurenzi, a journalist and former investigator for death row appeals in Tennessee, argues that executing individuals for crimes committed before age 21 contradicts modern brain science. Christa Pike, sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer, is scheduled to be executed by Tennessee, despite being only 18 at the time of the crime. If carried out, she would be the only person in the modern era executed for a crime committed before age 21.

The Supreme Court's 2005 ruling in Roper v. Simmons barred executions for crimes committed before age 18, acknowledging that juveniles differ from adults. However, research shows that brain development, particularly in areas governing impulse control and emotional regulation, continues into the mid-20s.

Studies indicate that 18- to 21-year-olds exhibit reduced impulse control under stress, resembling younger teenagers rather than fully mature adults. Given this evidence, Laurenzi urges Gov. Bill Lee to commute Pike's sentence to life without parole, aligning justice with scientific understanding of adolescent brain development.