Testimony and Interrogation of Minors: Assumptions About Maturity and Morality

This article examines the legal histories and social contexts of testimony and interrogation involving minors, developmental research on suggestibility and judgment, interactions between development and legal/sociological contexts, and the reasoning behind how minors are treated in different legal c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American psychologist 2006-05, Vol.61 (4), p.286-304
Main Authors: Owen-Kostelnik, Jessica, Reppucci, N. Dickon, Meyer, Jessica R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent Development
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child development
Childhood Development
Civil Rights
Civil Rights - legislation & jurisprudence
Crime
Criminal justice
Death
Developmental psychology
Ethics
Expert Testimony
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Interpersonal Relationship
Interrogation
Judgment
Juvenile courts
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile justice
Legal Confession
Legal Processes
Legal Testimony
Maturity
Maturity (Individuals)
Minors - psychology
Miranda rights
Morality
Morals
Psychology
Psychology - methods
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Punishment
Questioning
Social Action
Social Environment
Social History
Social Influences
Social sciences
Sociology
State Courts
Suggestibility
Suggestion
United States
Victims of Crime
Youth
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Summary:This article examines the legal histories and social contexts of testimony and interrogation involving minors, developmental research on suggestibility and judgment, interactions between development and legal/sociological contexts, and the reasoning behind how minors are treated in different legal contexts. The authors argue (a) that young witnesses, victims, and suspects alike possess youthful characteristics that influence their ability to validly inform legal processes, some of which were recently recognized by the Supreme Court as they apply to the juvenile death penalty, and (b) that consideration should be given to reforming current practices in the context of juvenile interrogation.
ISSN:0003-066X
1935-990X
DOI:10.1037/0003-066X.61.4.286