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.
Technorati Tags: psychology, American Psychologist, APA, American Psychological Association, juveniles, adolescents, cognitive maturity, captial punishment, death penalty, abortion decisions, Amicus Briefs
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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.
Technorati Tags: psychology, American Psychologist, APA, American Psychological Association, juveniles, adolescents, cognitive maturity, captial punishment, death penalty, abortion decisions, Amicus Briefs