Wilford Miko M, Frazier Annabelle
Department of Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States.
School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science and Security, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States.
Front Psychol. 2024 Oct 9;15:1414305. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1414305. eCollection 2024.
(1) Youth are particularly vulnerable to making suboptimal legal decisions due to added challenges in comprehension, as well as their ongoing neurological development. (2) This fact is especially problematic in our which frequently expects defendants to determine the outcome of their own cases (by accepting or rejecting plea offers). (3) To better ensure that guilty pleas entered by youthful defendants are indeed knowing, intelligent, and voluntary, legal counsel should be mandatory during any and all juvenile criminal proceedings. (4) Further, an additional "translator" (similar to a ), who has specialized training in developmental psychology, should be present to effectively counsel and support youth defendants who might otherwise fail to comprehend the advice of their attorneys (and other court actors).
（1）由于理解方面的额外挑战以及他们持续的神经发育，年轻人在做出次优法律决策时特别容易受到影响。（2）在我们的（司法体系）中，这一事实尤其成问题，因为（该体系）常常期望被告自行决定其案件的结果（通过接受或拒绝认罪协议）。（3）为了更好地确保年轻被告做出的认罪答辩确实是明知、明智且自愿的，在任何及所有少年刑事诉讼程序中，法律顾问应是强制性的。（4）此外，应配备一名额外的“翻译者”（类似于一名……），其接受过发展心理学方面的专业培训，以便有效地为那些可能无法理解其律师（及其他法庭人员）建议的年轻被告提供咨询和支持。
