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"Children Are Different" and Their Lawyers Should Be Too
The juvenile justice system often fails to provide adequate legal representation for children, particularly those with trauma histories. This can lead to inappropriate placements and a lack of support, hindering their rehabilitation.
The Slow Drip of Decarceration: Reversing the Flood of Mass Incarceration and Its Racist Impact
African Americans are incarcerated at nearly five times the rate of white Americans, reflecting deep-seated racial disparities. The U.S. prison population grew exponentially from the 1970s, disproportionately impacting people of color.
Amending New Jersey’s Expungement Law to Reflect the Historical Treatment of Juveniles: Juveniles Deserve a Second Chance
New Jersey law denies record expungement for juvenile crimes. Limiting record sealing prevents rehabilitated youth from moving past their past.
Adolescents Engage in More Risky Decision Making
Research indicates adolescents engage in more risky behaviors than adults. This is due to ongoing brain development affecting judgment and impulse control, which continues into young adulthood.
Light Cannabis Use and the Adolescent Brain: An 8‑years Longitudinal Assessment of Mental Health, Cognition, and Reward Processing
Research on cannabis's effects on brain reward systems shows inconsistent results. More longitudinal studies are needed to determine if observed differences are due to cannabis use or pre-existing factors.
The Case for Second Chances: A Pathway to Decarceration in Maine
Maine incarcerates more people per capita than most countries, often for too long and at too great an expense. This review argues for significant changes, including reinstating parole, to reduce the prison population and recidivism.
Juvenile Life Without Parole in Pennsylvania: Age, Cognitive Immaturity, and Culpability
Judges in Pennsylvania have sentenced some juveniles to life without parole by focusing on age and perceived adult-level culpability.
The Miller Trilogy, Jones, and the Future of Juvenile Sentencing and Constitutional Interpretation in the Post-Jones America
Many young people facing mental health challenges make reckless decisions. The lack of support structures, coupled with current sentencing practices, can severely harm juveniles in the criminal justice system.
Past, Prologue, and Constitutional Limits on Criminal Penalties
State constitutions can offer stronger protections than federal law. Illinois adopted a "proportionate-penalties clause" in its constitution, emphasizing rehabilitation in sentencing and requiring courts and lawmakers to consider it.
Brief of Center for Law, Brain and Behavior as Amicus Curiae in Support of Appellees-Plaintiffs Joao Neves, Keith Nunes, Pablo Ortega, and Mario Monteiro
This brief argues that Mario's Law should apply to all youth under 22 who have served 20 years, citing scientific evidence that adolescent brains continue to develop, making reliable predictions of future dangerousness impossible.
Large‐scale investigation of white matter structural differences in bilingual and monolingual children: An adolescent brain cognitive development data study
This study examines how speaking two languages impacts brain structure in school-aged children. Research increasingly shows that bilingual adults have unique brain alterations compared to those who speak only one language.
Associations Between Age, Social Reward Processing and Social Anxiety Symptoms
Adolescence is a vulnerable time for mental health issues, with social anxiety disorder often starting then. Research suggests adolescents may be highly sensitive to social rewards, though more studies are needed to confirm this in humans.
Fletcher v. Alaska
The Supreme Court case Fletcher v. Alaska examined whether Alaska's juvenile sentencing laws violated the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
Application for Leave to File Amici Curiae Brief and Proposed Brief of Amici Curiae ACLU, ACLU of Northern California, et al., in Support of Petitioner Tony Hardin
The brief argues that a law denying parole opportunities to young adults serving life without parole sentences is racially biased. It claims the law reflects stereotypes and demands strict legal review due to its discriminatory nature.
Application to File Amici Curiae Brief and [Proposed] Brief of Amici Curiae for the Santa Clara County Independent Defense Counsel Office (“IDO”) in Support of Defendant and Petitioner Tony Hardin
This brief argues that denying parole to young adults sentenced to life without parole for crimes committed before age 26 is unfair. It states that all youthful offenders should have a chance at parole if they show rehabilitation.