Drexel University, Apt. 4, Chattahoochee, FL 32324, USA.
Law Hum Behav. 2012 Feb;36(1):21-7. doi: 10.1037/h0093953.
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.
本研究旨在探讨被告的年龄和心理成熟度水平是否会影响法官对青少年在少年法庭和刑事法庭上的裁判能力的评定。342 名法官审查了一份关于假设被告的法医心理学报告；报告中仅被告的年龄（12-17 岁）和成熟度水平（成熟、不成熟）有所不同。结果显示年龄有主要影响，年龄较大的青少年通常被认为更有能力，成熟度也有主要影响，成熟的青少年通常被认为更有能力。未发现交互作用。结果表明，年龄和成熟度在司法机关对青少年能力的判定中起着重要作用。
