The sentencing of emerging adult offenders: The impact of youthfulness on sentence departures

Yu Du and Megan Kurlychek

Journal of Criminal Justice, 2025, vol. 98, issue C

Abstract: This paper explores whether or not offenders in the stage of “emerging adulthood”, defined by brain science as the period between 18 and 25 are sentenced differently than older adults. While brain science suggests these individuals have reduced cognitive capacity and may benefit from leniency, sentencing theory suggests that because of this reduced decision-making capacity they may be seen as more dangerous by judges and therefor receive more severe sentences.

Keywords: Emerging adult offenders; Judicial decision making; Sentence departures; Focal concerns (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:98:y:2025:i:c:s0047235225000844

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102435

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