CJJ opposes statutory schemes that preclude a sentencing judge, in either juvenile or criminal court, from considering the developmental stage of “youth” as a mitigating factor. In so doing, CJJ recognizes the need to utilize current knowledge about adolescent brain science and development, whenever a mandatory and/or determinant sentence is being contemplated for a defendant who is under the age of majority.
[1] See all positions.
[1]: http://juvjustice.org/positions.html