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State v. Roby
The Iowa Supreme Court held there is no constitutional bar to mandatory minimum sentences for juveniles. However, the court sent Mr. Roby's case back for resentencing due to his youth when the crimes occurred.
Commonwealth v. Batts
The court found Qu'eed Bates' mandatory life without parole sentence for a crime committed at 14 unconstitutional. This decision applied new rulings that prohibit such sentences without considering youth.
State ex rel. Carr v. Wallace
The court ruled Mr. Carr's three life sentences were unconstitutional because the jury could not consider his youth. This violated the Eighth Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
Steilman v. Michael
The Montana Supreme Court ruled a 17-year-old's 110-year sentence was not a life sentence. This was due to accumulated good-time credits and a previously discharged portion of his sentence.
People v. Holman
The Illinois Supreme Court found the defendant's life sentence for a murder committed at age 17 constitutional. The lower court properly considered his youth and individual circumstances when imposing the sentence.
State v. Zuber
The court ruled that lengthy juvenile sentences must consider the defendant's youth. Ricky Zuber, sentenced to 110 years as a teen, sought reconsideration based on Supreme Court precedent.
Garcia v. State
The Court denied relief to a juvenile offender sentenced to life without parole, finding a new law allowing resentencing could not be applied retroactively to his 1996 conviction.
Covington v. State
The court upheld Edward Covington's death sentences for murder. His claims of bipolar disorder and cocaine abuse were rejected, as voluntary drug use diminished mitigation.
Increased Striatal Activity in Adolescence Benefits Learning
Brain activity in reward-related areas peaks in late adolescence and early adulthood. This increased activity predicts better learning now and in the future.
Screening, treatment initiation, and referral for substance use disorders
A new model called STIR, which includes medication at initial visits, shows promise for treating substance use disorders. Two studies found it effective in reducing tobacco and opioid use in emergency room settings.
Modulation of Reward-related Neural Activation on Sensation Seeking Across Development
Sensation seeking, linked to seeking novel and risky experiences, has a genetic basis and is tied to brain reward systems. Studies show that adolescents exhibit heightened reactivity to rewards in a specific brain region.
Stress and Decision Making: Effects on Valuation, Learning, and Risk-taking
Research into how stress affects decision-making shows inconsistent findings. Methodological differences in how stress is defined and applied across studies, such as timing and type of stressor, contribute to this variability.
Adolescence and Reward: Making Sense of Neural and Behavioral Changes Amid the Chaos
Adolescence is a time of major changes, including increased exploration and sensation-seeking behavior. Research into brain development during this period can help understand and prevent health risks.
But Is Helping You Worth the Risk? Defining Prosocial Risk Taking in Adolescence
This article introduces "Prosocial Risk Taking," a new concept exploring if adolescents take risks to benefit others. It suggests viewing adolescence as a time of opportunity for positive development, not just vulnerability.
vlPFC-vmPFC-Amygdala Interactions Underlie Age-Related Differences in Cognitive Regulation of Emotion
Adolescents and children show less ability to manage negative emotions than adults. This study explored brain pathways, finding that age improves emotion regulation via a specific brain region's influence on emotional responses.