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Adolescent development and the regulation of youth crime
In re Fabian A
Connecticut courts must explain plea consequences to juveniles in an age-appropriate way. This ensures they understand potential penalties and commitment extensions before pleading guilty.
Patterson v. Board of Trustees, State Police Retirement System
The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that severe mental injuries can qualify for accidental disability benefits, but only if caused by a terrifying event that threatened physical safety or involved death or serious injury.
Council v. State
The South Carolina Supreme Court granted a new penalty hearing. The Court found counsel ineffective for failing to present mitigating evidence of the defendant's mental health issues and traumatic past.
Allen v. Bloomfield Hills Sch. Dist.
The court ruled PTSD can be a bodily injury with objective medical evidence of brain changes. Expert testimony connecting trauma to brain abnormalities was enough to proceed.
Erickson v. Pardus
The Supreme Court ruled a prisoner's claim of denied life-saving medical treatment for hepatitis C deserved a full hearing. This reinforced inmates' right to challenge prison medical care under the Eighth Amendment.
Childhood Psychiatric Disorders and Young Adult Crime: A Prospective, Population-Based Study
A study found that young adults with a history of psychiatric disorders as children or adolescents were more likely to commit crimes. This link was especially strong for specific combinations of disorders.
Malone v. State
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals upheld a death sentence. It ruled that drug-induced psychosis did not meet the legal insanity threshold, despite evidence the defendant suffered from it.
Kimbrough v. US
The Supreme Court ruled that judges can consider the sentencing differences between crack and powder cocaine when applying advisory guidelines.
Abdul-Kabir v. Quarterman
The Supreme Court overturned a death sentence because Texas jury instructions prevented full consideration of the defendant's troubled childhood and mental health. Jurors must be allowed to weigh all relevant mitigating evidence.
State v. Monteiro
Rhode Island's "Mario's Law" makes those sentenced before age 22 eligible for parole after 20 years. The State argues it excludes people with multiple consecutive sentences and violates separation of powers.
New Directions Treatment Services v. City of Reading
The court reaffirmed drug addiction as a disability only if not currently using, while striking down discriminatory zoning against methadone clinics.
Grisham v. Philip Morris USA, Inc.
The court ruled a smoker's fraud and negligence claims against tobacco companies were not time-barred. This was because her nicotine addiction's delayed discovery impacted the statute of limitations.
Sociometric Status and Social Drinking: Observations of Modelling and Persuasion in Young Adult Peer Groups
This study explores how a person's social standing within a peer group affects their drinking habits. It suggests that popular or dominant group members may have a stronger influence on others' alcohol consumption.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Comorbidity in Detained Youth
Many youths in detention have psychiatric disorders, with PTSD affecting at least one in ten. This study found nearly all detained youth with PTSD also had other psychiatric disorders, which negatively impacts their prognosis and treatment.