Adolescent Development
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…
For any young person, navigating the juvenile delinquency process can be daunting. Youth are required to understand, make decisions, and act on their rights and responsibilities in court. Yet courtinvolved youth are likely to face challenges that impact their ability to understand and participate in juvenile court. The legal jargon, abstract language, and complex terminology…
Intended for juvenile court judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors, and probation staff, the curriculum provides in-depth training materials on the most up-to-date adolescent development research and its application to juvenile court practice. As a part of the MacArthur Foundation’s project, Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice, this curriculum is available to jurisdictions across the…
