Lee Haller, M.D., who teaches forensic psychiatry at Children's Hospital in Washington and maintains a private practice in Potomac, Md., noted that “there is simply no evidence that executing juveniles does anything to act as a deterrent to crime.”
Early intervention and greater access to mental health services, not the death penalty, say psychiatrists, are what's needed for juvenile offenders.
Dr. Haller suggests comprehensive or “wraparound” services—psychotropic medication, behavioral therapy, and case management—as an early intervention for children and adolescents. Specifically, he noted the importance of groups that teach social skills, anger management, and impulse control. Dr. Thomas acknowledged the importance of gang prevention and substance abuse counseling.