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Unshackled: Stories of Redemption Among Serious Youthful Offenders
The article highlights that children, even those in maximum-security prisons, have a profound capacity for rehabilitation.
What's My Age Again?: Adolescent Development and the Case for Expanding Original Juvenile Court Jurisdiction and Investing in Alternatives for Emerging Adults Involved in Maine's Justice System
Maine’s juvenile justice system is falling behind, harming young adults and communities. The state needs an individualized, science-based approach to better support youth and improve public safety.
The Juvenile Restoration Act Year One — October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022
The Juvenile Restoration Act allows sentence reductions for individuals incarcerated as minors for over 20 years. In its first year, courts safely released most eligible individuals, often with re-entry support.
A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Family Interventions for Trauma-Affected Refugees
Forced displacement impacts nearly 90 million people globally, increasing their vulnerability to food insecurity, economic challenges, and mental health issues. Many lack resources to adapt to new environments.
What Science Tells us About False and Repressed Memories
Research indicates about 30% of people can be convinced to recall false autobiographical events. This suggests that creating false memories through suggestion is possible.
Psychosocial Family-Level Mediators in the Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
This article explores how trauma's psychological effects pass through generations, even without direct exposure. It highlights the role of family factors like parenting and mental health in this process.
People v. Banner
A California court ruled judges don't have to consider mental health diversion. It sent the case back for resentencing, favoring lower terms for trauma-related crimes.
The Role of Incarceration as a Risk Factor for Cognitive Impairment
This study links incarceration to cognitive impairment, especially in middle-aged individuals. It highlights racial disparities, showing formerly incarcerated people face a higher risk of cognitive decline and related societal costs.
The power of negative and positive episodic memories
Emotional experiences are more likely to be remembered and recalled than neutral ones. These powerful emotional memories influence present decisions and future predictions.
Trauma-Affected Refugees and Their Non-Exposed Children: A Review of Risk and Protective Factors for Trauma Transmission
Refugee children of trauma-affected parents face increased risks for mental health issues. This review identifies risk and protective factors, including interpersonal and contextual influences, to better understand these outcomes.
Biological Psychiatry in Displaced Populations: What We Know, and What We Need to Begin to Learn
One percent of the world's population is forcibly displaced due to conflict, persecution, or disasters. These individuals face severe trauma and chronic stress, leading to high rates of mental health conditions.
State v. Sorbonne
The Court ruled that self-defense claims must consider all relevant circumstances, including past abuse, to assess the reasonableness of force used.
Brief of the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Law, Brain & Behavior as Amicus Curiae Supporting Respondent
The brief supports a court order for a death row inmate to receive brain imaging. It argues the All Writs Act permits this testing and that such medical access is not "discovery." The imaging is deemed relevant to the inmate's legal claims.
Brief of Center for Law, Brain & Behavior and Neuroscientists as Amici Curiae in Support of Plaintiff-Appellant Jwainus Perry
The brief argues that harmful environments, like solitary confinement, cause physical brain changes. These changes are physical injuries, not merely psychological, and legal policies should reflect current scientific understanding.
Brief of Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs, ACLU of Maryland, Public Justice Center, National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and MD Criminal Defense Attorneys’ Association as Amici Curiae in Support of Appellant
This brief argues that fear of police, not criminal guilt, often explains why Black men flee from law enforcement. It asks the court to reverse a ruling and clarify that flight alone does not justify a stop and search.