Harp’s Appointment to OJJDP Leaves Juvenile Justice Advocates Relieved, Pleased
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Juvenile justice reform advocates have met President Donald Trump’s nominee for a critical Department of Justice position with sighs of relief.
OJJDP Nominee from Liberty University Wrote About Brain Science for Us
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In May 2017, here at the JJIE.org, Caren Harp, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the next administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in the Department of Justice, wrote in great detail her thoughts about juvenile justice.
In her opinion column she writes about “misplaced reliance on nascent neuroscience and neuroimaging evidence.” It “invites pushback from those who favor a retributive system, and it may create some unintended and unwanted consequences for youth and young adults.”
Adolescent Brain Science: Proceed With Caution
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The renewed focus on adolescent development in juvenile justice is welcome and overdue. Adolescence is potentially the best opportunity to intervene effectively with youth to help them develop empathy, impulse control and good decision-making skills.