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When a person below the age of 18 commits a crime, he or she is typically processed through juvenile justice system, which differs from the criminal justice system in that rehabilitation of the youth serves as a primary goal. Transitional-aged youth (ages 18-25) pose a challenge to the justice system in that they are treated the same as older adults, despite emerging evidence in developmental science indicating that the brain continues to mature well into the mid-twenties. Importantly transitional-aged youth represent one of the largest segments of individuals involved in the criminal justice system and experience the highest rate of recidivism. Developmental scientists and legal scholars have questioned whether current approaches to criminal justice are appropriate for this age group.
The Young Adult Court (YAC) of Orange County was founded in response to the misalignment between developmental research and the application of criminal justice policies for transitional-aged youths. The YAC is a collaboration between the Defense Attorney, the District Attorney, Probation Officers, the Judge, the Orangewood Foundation and University of California, Irvine. Dr. Elizabeth Cauffman and her research team are evaluating the efficacy of the YAC in reducing recidivism and promoting prosocial outcomes.
Transitional aged youth who meet the following criteria are eligible for participation in YAC:
- Are between the ages of 18-25
- Are male
- Live in Orange County
- Were charged with a crime in Orange County
- Were charged with an eligible felony offense (e.g., no offenses resulting in great bodily injury)
- Were determined eligible and suitable by the YAC team.
The primary goal of the YAC study is to determine whether a court targeting transitional-aged youth is effective in reducing recidivism and promoting prosocial outcomes. Without evidence on the effectiveness of YACs, the potential of YACs to reduce the impact of a criminal record remains untested. This project targets a segment of the population that is undergoing a crucial transition period and focuses on evaluating a social institution that has generated and exacerbated inequality. This study will improve criminal justice decision-making by providing evidence on the impact of YACs and to reduce the disproportionate impact of a record on minority young adults.