title: The impact of juveniles' ages and levels of psychosocial maturity on judges' opinions about adjudicative competence.
abstract: This study investigated whether defendants' ages and levels of psychosocial maturity would affect judges' ratings of juveniles' adjudicative competence in juvenile and criminal court. Three hundred forty two judges reviewed a forensic psychological report about a hypothetical defendant; only the defendant's age (12-17) and maturity level (mature, immature) varied across reports. Results revealed a main effect of age, with older juveniles generally deemed more competent, and a main effect of maturity, with mature juveniles generally deemed more competent. No interaction was found. Results suggest that age and maturity play major roles in judicial determinations of juvenile competency.
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Apt. 4, Chattahoochee, FL 32324, USA. jen_mayer@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jennifer Mayer
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Naomi E S
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dolores
authors.forename: Amanda D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Zelechoski
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Messenheimer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States