Week1: Blog #3

Research findings  from the "Juveniles Locked Up" video with regards the maturity of youth,  states the mental capacity of an adolescent (for example age 12), has not reach the full mental capacity of an adult at 18 plus years of age according to the video.  What this means is that a young adolescent does not have the full capability to know and understand the repercussions of their actions.   
Steinberg and Scotts article also indicates that through developmental research findings, "cognitive and psychosocial functioning in adolescence measures behaviors, self-perceptions, or attitudes". One would then believe that this area in an adolescent may still require growth.  The authors go on to state that, "mounting evidence suggests that at least some of the differences between adults and adolescents have neuropsychological and neurobiological underpinnings." (Steinberg, 1013).  In a nutshell adolescents have a diminished capability to fully evaluate consequences due to less intelligence, less experience and less education.
Such findings have shown that youth experiences in adult detention facilities show that an obvious issue is the adult correctional facility is much more violent than a juvenile facility. Additionally, Juveniles receive no mandatory rehab counseling and adult facilities do not focus on the educational needs of inmates to the depth of a juvenile facility.  Juveniles have a much greater success rate at not become habitual offenders when they are required to participate in group counseling, individual counseling and up to eight hours of academic and vocational training. Kupchick notes that the facility must be adequately able to relate to kids.  Juvenile facilities are not just correctional facilities for confinement but are a source of treatment and caring role models. (Kupchik, 258-259).

Films for the Humanities and Sciences."Part 1: Juveniles Locked Up" 1995. Online video clip. Arizona Universities Library Consortium. FMG Video On Demand. Accessed on 03 June 2011. http://digital.films.com/play/ HVKF9S

Kupchik, A. (2007). The correctional experiences of youth in adult and juvenile prisons. Justice Quarterly, 24(2), 247-270 .

Steinberg, L., & Scott, E. S. (2003). Less guilty by reason of adolescence: Developmental immaturity, diminished responsibility, and the juvenile death penalty. The American Psychologist, 58(12), 1009-18.