Adolescent Development
From the conclusion: “The years between 16 and 25 are an important window to build pathways toward a thriving adulthood. By later adolescence, we have the cognitive abilities and social understanding to connect with others and navigate the world in new ways. We have new agency to pursue our own goals and new responsibilities that…
Following the 20th anniversary of the Roper v. Simmons decision that ruled the death penalty unconstitutional for youth under the age of 18, the Death Penalty Information Center released a report on the latest science of adolescent brain development and evolving societal standards that recognize the need for heightened legal protections for 18- to 20-year-olds.…
From the Abstract: In Maine, there is no such thing as a child too young to be prosecuted. Maine’s Juvenile Code grants the juvenile court jurisdiction over a child of any age, even one who would have been considered too young to prosecute in the fifteenth century. As of 2024, just over half of states…
This resource is part of the Youth Defender Advocacy Program (YDAP) curriculum, a specialized trial advocacy training program for youth defenders.
This resource is part of the Youth Defender Advocacy Program (YDAP) curriculum, a specialized trial advocacy training program for youth defenders.
Abstract: In the wake of Miller v. Alabama and its progeny, there has been a wider acceptance that juvenile’s need more protections in our judicial system. This is a result of a growing body of research stating that young people’s brains do not fully develop until the age of twenty-five. States across the country are…
A brief on the core changes happening during the remarkable period of growth from 10 to 25 years old. The brief highlights the opportunities for positive development during this period of adolescence and the critical need for social systems to adapt to youth in a way that supports their success.
Human Rights Watch conducted a study on New Jersey’s waiver mechanisms, finding that the state is effectively operating a prosecutorial waiver system that is disproportionately harming Black and Latine youth, sidelining judicial oversight, and prioritizing punishment over treatment. This report offers recommendations for a wide range of system professionals to ultimately end the prosecution of…
From the introduction: “Friendships gain new importance and intensity as we become adolescents. Healthy friendships can lead to higher academic achievement, less risky behavior, and greater overall wellbeing and can influence our future values and identity. They can even have positive effects on mental health well into adulthood. Providing opportunities for young people to form…
One-page infographic on the seven key developmental needs of adolescence.
From the conclusion: “For the reasons discussed, Miller and its progeny have rendered Eads’s term-of-years sentence invalid under both the Michigan Constitution and our state’s proportionality requirement. He is entitled to be resentenced in a manner that comports with this jurisprudence and duly accounts for his youth and its attendant characteristics at the time he…
In August 2024, the Office for Access to Justice hosted a convening on youth defense, calling attention to the urgent need to invest in youth defense specialization. “Such investments from the state and federal level are essential to safeguarding young people’s constitutional rights. Well-trained and specialized counsel help young people understand their rights as they…
