Recent Events
Juvenile Justice Leadership
Celebration November 29, 2007
Juvenile Justice Forum March
12, 2007
On March 12, 2007 CfJJ convened a Juvenile Justice Forum on Juvenile Culpability. Our distinguished speaker was Thomas Grisso, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Law and Psychiatry Program at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Grisso is also a member of the Board of Directors of Citizens for Juvenile Justice
Dr. Grisso discussed culpability and competency in juvenile justice policy. He focused on what is known from brain research and from research on behavior and socio-emotional changes during adolescent development and what these findings reasonably suggest regarding policy for adolescents. He showed that there are systematic differences between adolescents and adults in capabilities necessary to be held fully blameworthy for their offenses and that there are systematic differences between adolescents and adults in capabilities necessary for competence to be adjudicated in an adversarial context. This does not mean that all adolescents are less able to be responsible for their behavior, or that all adolescents are less capable than adults of participating in their defense. It means that adolescent immaturity increases the risk of engaging in illegal behaviors, as well as the risk of incompetence to stand trial.
The research on brain development shows that there are two distinct sets of brain systems relevant to adolescent behavior: the socio-emotional system and the cognitive control system. Both continue to develop through adolescence because of continued myelination (conductivity) and pruning (efficiency). The two systems involve different regions of the brain and mature along different timetables. The research suggests that during adolescence the socio-emotional system is easily aroused, that the cognitive control system is still immature, and that the connections between the socio-emotional and cognitive control systems are still maturing.
Behavioral research confirms what this brain research predicts: on average, adolescents are
- Less able to control impulses and more driven by the thrill of rewards,
- More short-sighted and oriented to immediate gratification, and
- Less able to resist pressure from peers.
This research has policy implications for culpability. The findings provide a clear case for having different policies for juveniles than for adults when responding to their offenses. Applying this to the individual youth is more difficult, because it would require individualized assessment tools that are not currently available. Policy implications for competence are also apparent. Dr. Grisso stated that many of the developing cognitive and socio-emotional abilities are relevant for assisting counsel and making plea decisions.
A lively discussion with sixty participants followed with questions relevant to both policy and practice. Some of them follow.
- Should we be extending the age of supervision to 24 or 25?
- What if young kids were incarcerated with 23-24 year olds?
- Could you use some of this to attack elements of the crime? Dr. Grisso replied by asking if there are not many adults who act impulsively who we hold fully culpable.
- Doesn't your research show that impaired kids are poorer decision makers than similarly impaired adults? Dr. Grisso responded that there are studies on understanding Miranda warnings, but little of that research has focused on disabled populations.
- How about discounting sentence for age?
The findings have implications for raising the age of juvenile jurisdiction as Vermont is attempting to do.
During the discussion, it was suggested that a clearinghouse for states that are trying to revise their competence to stand trial statutes be developed.
View the PowerPoint notes (web page | pdf file | PowerPoint file). Some data tables are not included because the data are still preliminary.
Juvenile Justice Leadership
Celebration 2006
CfJJ welcomed more than 130 guests to its Juvenile Justice Leadership Celebration 2006 from 5 - 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 29, 2006, at the Boston Bar Association.
CfJJ honored Susan Wayne, President of Wayne Associates and formerly President and CEO of Justice Resource Institute, for her "courageous and visionary leadership in creating innovative and effective community-based programs for at-risk children and youth".
Keynote speaker Karen J. Mathis, President of the American Bar Association, urged broad engagement in efforts to help at-risk youth, including the Youth At Risk Initiative she is leading during the year of her presidency.
Delicious hors d'oeuvres for the reception were prepared and served by the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School Catering Club.
The Celebration was supported by Lead Sponsors Bank of America; Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation; Goodwin Procter; Massachusetts MENTOR; Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps, and YouthBuild Boston, and by Sponsors Boston Medica Center HealthNet Plan; Citizens Bank; Community Resources for Justice; Corporation for Justice Management; Goulston & Storrs; Juvenile Justice Center at Suffolk University Law School; Mintz Levin; Rodman Ford; The Key Program, and Wainwirght Bank.
Click here for photos of the celebration.
Juvenile Justice Forum April
24, 2006
On April 24, 2006, CfJJ convened a Juvenile Justice Forum on Why We Need the Court Clinics - and What They Need From Us. More than 30 attendees joined the discussion with Tina Adams (Director of Forensic Services, DMH), Patricia Cone (Director of the Court Clinic Services for the Juvenile Court), Carol Fernandez (Attorney), Rebecca pries (Executive Director, Adolescent Consultation Services), Steven Siciliano (Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, Suffolk County), and Moderator Wendy Wolf (Juvenile Defense Network Coordinator, Youth Advocacy Project of CPCS).
Juvenile Justice Leadership
Celebration 2005
On November 30, 2005, CfJJ hosted its Juvenile Justice Leadership Celebration 2005 at the Boston Bar Association in Boston . More than 100 guests braved a stormy night to join us in honoring State Senator Jarrett Barrios, hearing the eloquent and moving remarks of Professor Charles Ogletree, savoring hors d'oeuvres prepared and served by students from Madison Park High School, and celebrating the energy and commitment of everyone working to make our juvenile justice system truly just. We are pleased to share a two-page collection of pictures from this event: Page 1 and Page 2.
On September 8, 2005 DYS Commissioner Jane Tewksbury
spoke at a CFJJ Juvenile Justice Forum.
Please view a summary
of her remarks.
Girl Trouble, Documentary
Film
CfJJ helped organize a screening of the documentary film Girl Trouble by State Representative Kay Khan and the Caucus of Women Legislators on June 27, 2005. The screening was followed by a panel discussion with experts on young women and juvenile crime, including Department of Youth Services Commissioner Jane Tewksbury, Fran Sherman of Boston College Law School, Maureen Norton-Hawk of Suffolk University, Tina King-Kyei of New Beginnings Awareness & Outreach Services, and Charlene Bonner, court psychologist, Middlesex County Juvenile Court.
On June 9, 2005, CfJJ hosted the Boston premiere screening of the documentary film Girl Trouble, followed by a panel discussion about the special problems of girls in the juvenile justice system. Moderated by CfJJ Executive Director Lael Chester, the panel included State Rep. Kay Khan, Laura Prescott (Director of Female Services for the Department of youth Services), Tyreese Turner (Girlâs Intervention Specialist at the Youth Advocacy Project), and Mary Harte (Program Director of the Fay A. Rotenberg School, R.F. K. Childrenâs Action Corps). More than 100 guests attended the event.
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