Documents
- Case hypothetical (pdf)
- Factsheet: Jackson and Miller: Hope for children sentenced to die in prison, Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth
- Graham v. Florida & Sullivan v. Florida: amicus curiae brief in support of petitioners (July 23, 2009)
- From a Trilogy to a Quadrilogy: Miller v. Alabama Makes It Four in a Row For U.S. Supreme Court Cases That Support Differential Treatment of Youth by Marsha Levick, Bloomberg Criminal Law Reporter (2012)
- Addressing the Collateral Consequences of Convictions for Young Offenders by Ashley Nellis (The Champion® Issue July/August 2011)
- Juvenile Life Without Parole by Naoka Carey and Jody Kent Lavy (The Champion® Issue July/August 2011)
In a series of decisions involving youth facing criminal charges, the United States Supreme Court has recognized the legitimacy and relevance of scientific research relating to adolescent brain and behavioral development. These opinions, and the underlying science, confirm that there are biological differences between adolescents (defined as 10-24 years old) and adults. Adolescents tend to lack impulse and emotional control, are more susceptible to peer and other external influences, they generally do not engage in long term planning, and have difficulty foreseeing and appreciating consequences and assessing risks. Abuse, neglect, mental illness, and trauma can exacerbate these challenges. Because adolescence is a transitory time, young offenders are more likely to "age out" of errant behavior and are more amenable to rehabilitation. In this webinar series presented in partnership with the National Juvenile Defender Center, Juvenile Law Center, and the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, presenters seek to help educate lawyers on how these differences factor into their communication with, and representation of, young clients. Lawyers will be taught about ways to contextualize youth behavior and help judges understand why a defendant may have engaged in a specific act (ranging from the underlying criminal act to waiving Miranda). Lawyers will be exposed to research, law, and investigative tips to help the court educate judges so they can appreciate how the differences between adolescents and adults should factor into every decision the court makes.
Speakers: Cathryn Crawford, Defense Attorney/Juvenile Justice Expert; Mary Ann Scali, Deputy Director, National Juvenile Defender Center; Dr. Jennifer Woolard, Associate Professor of Psychology and Interim Director of Research at the Center for Social Justice, Georgetown University
Presented by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Foundation for Criminal Justice in partnership with The National Juvenile Defender Center, Juvenile Law Center, and the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth
Supported by funding from the Foundation for Criminal Justice and the Ford Foundation
See more sessions in this series
- Communicating with a Juvenile Client: JTIP Lesson on Interviewing and Counseling Youth
- Strategies for Keeping Youth out of Adult Jails and Prisons: Bail, Sentencing and Post-Sentencing Advocacy
