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White Matter Integrity, Substance Use, and Risk Taking in Adolescence
Brain imaging studies show that during adolescence, brain white matter develops, improving connections. This development is linked to better cognitive control and can influence risk-taking behaviors.
Walker v. Shult
The court ruled that extreme jail overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and constant noise causing severe sleep loss could violate the Eighth Amendment, as sleep is essential.
Gissendaner v. Seaboldt
The court found lawyers were not ineffective for not presenting childhood sexual abuse evidence. PTSD diagnoses were unreliable, and the mitigation investigation was adequate.
Evans v. State
The MS Supreme Court reversed a murder conviction, ruling that denying funds for a PTSD expert violated due process. Expert testimony was needed to explain how the juvenile's trauma affected his mental state.
Stalcup v. State
A vehicular homicide conviction was reversed. The court found that excluding expert testimony on trauma, memory, and EMDR therapy was an error, as this evidence was reliable and central to the defense.
State v. Almaraz
The Idaho Supreme Court ruled an eyewitness identification was inadmissible due to suggestive police procedures outweighing its reliability. Experts can now testify about police practices that undermine identification accuracy.
Keller v. MacCubbin
A Delaware court blocked expert testimony attempting to pinpoint when a plaintiff's repressed memory began. The court found insufficient scientific support for reliably determining the exact timing of memory repression.
Asylum Seekers, Violence and Health: A Systematic Review of Research in High-Income Host Countries
Asylum seekers frequently experience violence and trauma, impacting their mental and physical health. Host countries often have stringent asylum processes and policies that may worsen health outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Aligning Justice System Processing with Developmental Science
Scientific evidence suggests that key aspects of maturity develop until the early twenties. The article argues that legal systems should extend diminished responsibility to ages 21–24 and implement rehabilitative programs for young adults.
Considerations for Imaging the Adolescent Brain
Adolescence involves significant neurobiological changes, impacting risk-taking and social behaviors. Brain regions for self-control mature slower than those for emotion, and peer influence also affects brain function.
Development of the Social Brain in Adolescence
Humans develop "theory of mind" to understand others' thoughts and feelings. Brain imaging shows a specific network of regions, including the mPFC, is key for this ability.
Risk Taking and the Adolescent Reward System: a Potential Common Link to Substance Abuse
The article finds that adolescents who take more risks show less brain activity in areas related to reward. This suggests a common brain basis for risk-taking and addiction, possibly before substance abuse begins.
Paula E v. State of Alaska, Department of Health and Social Services
The Alaska Supreme Court found that OCS did not follow proper procedures regarding notice of hearings and visitation rights for a mother whose four children were removed due to substance abuse.
Jackson v. State
The court upheld convictions for MDMA and firearms offenses. Evidence was sufficient and mental illness defenses were rejected.
Romero v. State
The court upheld a life sentence for second-degree murder, ruling that a prior decision limiting life without parole for juveniles applies only to non-homicide offenses.