PDF Taking a Second Look at Juvenile Sentencing
Research on the cognitive development of adolescents shows that the ability of a juvenile to evaluate potential risks and consequences or to control impulses is not fully developed until their mid-20s. To reflect an adolescent’s development accurately, most states have adjusted parole eligibility laws for juveniles who are tried and sentenced as adults. However, Texas’ current 40-year minimum eligibility fails to provide once-juvenile offenders with a meaningful opportunity to reenter society as an adult. Texas should enact legislation, often referred to as “second look” legislation, that would provide an earlier shot at parole for these once-juveniles who have demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation since their sentence.