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Adolescent Brain Development and Drugs

Adolescent brains are still developing, especially the parts for logical reasoning and impulse control. This makes young people more prone to risk-taking and vulnerable to drug use, particularly in emotional or peer-influenced situations.

AdolescenceBehaviorBrain developmentChoicesDrugsSafety
(2011)

Braking and Accelerating of the Adolescent Brain

Adolescents act more impulsively and engage in riskier behavior than adults. This behavior stems from an imbalance in brain development, where emotion-driven regions mature faster than areas responsible for self-control.

AdolescencebraindevelopmentfMRIriskincentivecognitive controlconnectivity
(2011)

Early Health Risk Factors for Violence: Conceptualization, Evidence, and Implications

Research on violence and aggression has overlooked early childhood health factors, especially prenatal ones. Current theories often miss integrating social, biological, and health risk factors in understanding how these behaviors develop.

Health Risk FactorsAlcohol during PregnancyBiosocial InteractionTobacco during PregnancyToxicity and Drugs During PregnancyHead Injury During Early ChildhoodTeenage PregnancyBirth ComplicationsMalnutrition of the Pregnant MotherMalnutrition During Early Postnatal YearsBrain DysfunctionAggressionChild Behavior ProblemsViolence PreventionProtective FactorsMediating Factors
(2011)

Juvenile Justice in the US: Facts for Policymakers

Adolescent brains are still developing, impacting decision-making and increasing risk-taking. Incarceration in traditional facilities harms many nonviolent youth and fails to provide needed services, contributing to re-arrests.

Adolescent brain developmentprefrontal cortexexecutive functiondecision-making juvenile justice systemrisk factorsnon-violent crimerecidivismrehabilitation
(2011)

Maturation of Limbic Corticostriatal Activation and Connectivity Associated with Developmental Changes in Temporal Discounting

The article examines how foresighted adaptive behavior and self-control develop through adolescence. It notes that impulsivity and risk-taking are common in this period, and it explores how the brain matures to affect these behaviors.

RewardsDecision makingBrain developmentAdolescentsAdultsBrain scans
(2011)

'Willpower' Over the Life Span: Decomposing Self-Regulation

Early "marshmallow test" studies found that children's ability to delay gratification predicted better outcomes in adulthood, including higher SAT scores and coping skills. The research now examines the biological basis of self-regulation.

Review articleDelay of gratificationLongitudinal studySelf-regulationWillpower
(2011)

Rhoades v. Henry

The court found that new expert opinions on the defendant's mental state were speculative and did not show that lawyer error impacted the case outcome. Strong aggravating evidence weighed against prejudice claims.

mitigationPTSDbrain impairmentexpert opinions aggravating evidenceprejudice
(2011)

State v. Folk

The Idaho Supreme Court overturned a conviction, finding no evidence that a defendant's voice would traumatize a child witness. Restrictions on cross-examination were therefore unsupported.

pro se defendantcross-examinationchild witnesstraumatize child
(2011)

State v. Stewart

The court reversed a murder conviction, ruling that evidence of decades of abuse was relevant. Cumulative trauma can impact reasoning and intent, affecting premeditation and malice.

murder conviction reversedexcluded evidenceabusecumulative traumaperceptionintentmalicepremeditation
(2011)

Brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as Amicus Curiae in Support of Petitioner

The brief argues New Hampshire courts violated due process by not assessing suggestive identification reliability, regardless of state action. It asserts reliability is key for admitting identification evidence to ensure fair trials.

due processsuggestive identificationmisidentificationreliabilitystate actionunfair trialerroneous convictionjudicial scrutinywitness memorycross-examination
(2011)

Brief for the American Psychological Association as Amicus Curiae Supporting Petitioner

The brief argues that eyewitness identifications can be unreliable, violating due process rights. It contends that courts should assess identification reliability regardless of whether state actors caused the suggestive circumstances.

eyewitness identificationdue process rightssuggestive circumstancesreliabilitymisidentificationstate actionpsychological researchinaccurate identificationsjury instructionscross-examination
(2011)

Brief of Amicus Curiae the Innocence Network in Support of Petitioner, Supporting Reversal

The petitioner argues New Hampshire courts violated due process by refusing to assess the likelihood of misidentification in a suggestive pre-trial lineup.

due processsuggestive identificationmisidentificationreliabilityunfair trialwrongful convictioncross-examineexternal influences
(2011)

New Jersey v. Henderson

The NJ Supreme Court revised the state's eyewitness identification rules based on memory science. This expands pretrial reviews and requires stronger jury instructions on reliability.

memory scienceeyewitness identificationpretrial reviewsuggestive identificationsjury instructionsreliability
(2011)

State v. Obeta

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that expert testimony about typical rape-victim behaviors can be used to counter consent defenses, as such evidence is not automatically excluded.

expert testimonyrape-victim behaviorsconsent defensesdelayed reportinglack of injurysubmissivenesssexual assault
(2011)

Langford v. Norris

The court allowed inmates' claims to proceed, finding officials were indifferent to inadequate care and a grievance system that blocked access to treatment.

8th AmendmentADAprison officialsdeliberate indifferenceinadequate careaccess to treatment
(2010)