Juvenile Crimes Archives

Research shows that the adolescent brain does not fully develop until later in life and that the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain that facilitates higher cognitive functions like behavior control, planning, and risk assessment — is one of the last areas to mature. For a long time, it was believed that the brain finished developing rather early in life; however, many studies show this is not the case. Still, the court system has delayed making use of this information to create more informed decisions and better serve society.  Throughout the United States, minors can be charged as adults in criminal cases, sometimes from a very young age. Currently, minors 16 and older can be charged formally as…