Juvenile Justice or Juvenile Injustice.
“The juvenile justice process operates according to the premise that youth are fundamentally different from adults, both in terms of level of responsibility and potential for rehabilitation”. Yet, the differences between juvenile and adult offenders is disregarded when juveniles are prosecuted as adults. The American Psychological Association addresses the need for consideration of juvenile’s ability to make judgments, control impulses and consider consequences in their sentencing. Both brain development and environmental factors influence choices in adolescents.
Stages of life
Brain Development: |
As teenagers, the brain has not fully developed. The frontal lobe, the region of the brain responsible for impulse control, judgement and emotion does not fully develop until early adulthood. As a result, juveniles struggle with impulse control and are more likely to behave recklessly. In contrast, adult brains are fully developed and can suppress criminal behavior. It is illogical to prosecute juveniles and adults in the same justice system when there is significant developmental differences. Due to these findings, the American Psychological Association has helped overturn juvenile life-sentences on the grounds that juveniles cannot grasp the severity of their crimes.
|
Environment:The influence of an adolescent’s environment can impact their development. Specifically, when minors are raised in unhealthy home environments, lack of guidance can lead to experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Drug and alcohol use can damage the frontal lube of the brain, impairing a juvenile’s already limited ability to control impulses and reason.
|
Elizabeth Cauffman, Professor and Chancellor's Fellow at the University of California Irvine, discusses the differences in adolescents and adults.
|