Understanding Adolescents

Juvenile Law Center, American Bar Association Juvenile Justice Center, Youth Law Center,

This training curriculum applies the findings of adolescent development research and relates that research to issues facing juvenile court practitioners at the various decision-making stages within the juvenile justice system. It addresses a variety of topics, including strategies for interviewing juvenile defendants, obtaining adequate mental health evaluations for accused youth, recognizing and treating children with special education needs, and evaluating youth competence.