Overview

How does the scientific knowledge differ from the way a court views adolescents versus adults?

Summary

When it comes to the definition of adolescent and adult, science and the legal system have very different definitions. In most jurisdictions, a person who is 18 years old is considered an adult and some individuals who are younger than 18 can be tried as an adult based on the crime they commit. According to science, a brain is not fully developed until the person is in their early to mid-20’s. 

The post What do we Know about the Adolescent Brain? first appeared on Mitigation Aide.

What is the real age of maturity and how could this affect sentencing mitigation?

Summary

In the criminal justice system, a person is deemed an adult at the age of 18. In some jurisdictions, depending on the crime, a legal minor can be tried as an adult before they reach the chronological age of 18. While the legal age of adulthood is fixed, it is in direct contrast with what we know from neuroscience.

The post Maturation of the Adolescent Brain first appeared on Mitigation Aide.

Overview

What are the socioeconomic demographics of juvenile offenders and how do non-CSEM offenses play into recidivism?

Summary

The increase in access to pornography has meant an increase in juveniles accessing child sexual exploitation material. This means an increase in these juveniles being arrested and charged for possession of the materials.  As we know that juvenile sexual offending is different from adult offending, research is needed to truly understand this phenomenon in juveniles.

The post Criminal Histories and Recidivism Rates for Juveniles Convicted of Child Pornography Possession first appeared on Mitigation Aide.