Applying Principles of Adolescent Development in Delinquency Proceedings

The United States Supreme Court has cited a comprehensive body of research on adolescent development in its opinions examining youth sentencing, culpability, and custody. Several key characteristics of youth have been noted in each of these opinions and must be considered in judicial decision-making and interactions with youth in court. We encourage judges to read the decisions and the underlying studies. Judges and judicial leadership play a critical role in ensuring that juvenile and family courts recognize the developmental differences between youth and adults and integrate, at each stage of the case, applicable principles supported by the research on adolescent development.