Healthy adolescent development and the juvenile justice system: Challenges and solutions

Adolescents are developmentally distinct from adults in ways that merit a tailored response to juvenile crime. Normative adolescent brain development is associated with increases risk taking, which may include criminal behavior. Juvenile delinquency peaks during the years and declines concert psychosocial maturation. However, current U.S. approaches justice misaligned youth's developmental needs undermine very necessary for youth transition out of crime lead healthy adult lives. In this article, I discuss empirically supported efficacious responses United States, as well opportunities further reform system. Developmentally appropriate prioritize community-based corrections engage social context rehabilitative process. The system shares responsibility prepare live fulfilling, productive lives; can be achieved by partnering scientists inform practice policy.