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.