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Brief of Washington Defender Association et al. on Behalf of Appellant
This brief argues that courts should consider a defendant's youth, even if over 18, as a mitigating factor in sentencing. Recent neuroscience and Supreme Court precedent show youth impacts culpability, allowing for reduced sentences.
Brain Science and the Theory of Juvenile Mens Rea
This article argues that the legal standard for mental state in criminal law should be updated for juvenile offenders. It suggests considering scientific evidence about how adolescents' brains differ from adults'.
McFadden v. United States
The Supreme Court ruled the government must prove a defendant knew a substance was controlled to prosecute under the Analogue Act.
Cannabis Action Coalition v. City of Kent
The court affirmed Kent's ban on medical cannabis collective gardens, holding that state zoning law does not preempt municipal authority to regulate them.
Family Income, Parental Education and Brain Structure in Children and Adolescents
Parental education is linked to larger cortical surface area in children. This association holds true regardless of the child's age or genetic background.
Multiple Accounts of Adolescent Impulsivity
Adolescents are more likely than adults to choose smaller, immediate rewards over larger, later ones. This study suggests that differences in brain development, specifically connectivity, influence this inclination towards impatience.
Neurocognitive Bases of Emotion Regulation Development in Adolescence
Adolescence is a critical period for developing emotion regulation skills due to ongoing brain development and increased emotional challenges. This phase presents an opportunity for interventions to improve long-term mental health.
Stereotype Threat and Racial Differences in Citizens’ Experiences of Police Encounters
Research shows that African Americans experience stereotype threat in interactions with police. This threat can lead to behaviors police misinterpret as suspicious, potentially increasing false accusations and confessions.
The Neuroscience of Adolescent Decision-Making
Adolescent decision-making is shaped by brain development and is a focus of research using neuroeconomic approaches. Understanding these changes can help promote adolescent health.
Development During Adolescence of the Neural Processing of Social Emotion
Adolescence involves profound changes in social behavior and awareness. Brain areas involved in social cognition, like the prefrontal cortex, show developmental changes in activity between adolescence and adulthood.
Who Are Those 'Risk-Taking Adolescents'? Individual Differences in Developmental Neuroimaging Research
Brain research suggests that a common theory about adolescent risk-taking, which points to an imbalance in brain activity, applies mainly to youth with disruptive behavior disorders, not neurotypical teens.
Adolescence as a Sensitive Period of Brain Development
Brain plasticity, the ability to adapt, is heightened during "sensitive periods" in early life. Studies show that early deprivation can have lasting effects, but some recovery is possible even outside these periods.
Biological Risk for the Development of Problem Behavior in Adolescence: Integrating Insights from Behavioral Genetics and Neuroscience
The article states that genetic risk for problem behavior in adolescents increases with age and puberty. This risk is partly explained by genetic influences on sensation seeking and is affected by peer groups.
Brain Functional Correlates of Emotion Regulation Across Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Adolescents experience intense negative emotions and are at greater risk of mental health issues. This is partly due to developing brain regions responsible for emotional regulation, particularly in social situations.
Child Poverty and Adult Success
Childhood poverty, especially persistent poverty, is linked to lower adult achievement. Factors like parental education and stable housing positively influence outcomes for children experiencing poverty.