I had just started reading the latest issue of the
American Psychologist with great interest, when
Karen Franklin (In the News Blog) posted a nice summary of the featured article. A central issue in the featured article, which also had some response counter-point articles, is what appears at face value to be APA's schizophrenic stance, as articulated in two different
Amicus Briefs, re: whether adolescents have the cognitive maturity to make certain decisions (criminal behavior vs ability to make decision for an abortion). As a result of eventual court decisions, juvinelle's can not be consider for capital punishment (death penalty). The articles make for interesting reading re: the use of psychological research to inform judical thinking and decision-making.
The two different APA
Amicus Briefs can be found at
Psychology and the Law.
Roper v Simmons (2005) and
Hodgson v Minnesota (1990). A more recent APA
Amicus Brief related to juvenile sentencing and the death penalty (
Graham v Florida; Florida v Sullivan) is also of interest for capital punishment cases. All
APA Amicus Briefs can be reviewed by
clicking here.
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