CLBB Leaders Present on Neuroscience and Juvenile Justice Reform to Maryland Commission

Maryland Commission on Juvenile Justice Reform and Emerging Best Practices | March 5, 2025

CLBB Founding Co-Director Judith Edersheim, JD, MD, and CLBB Executive Director Robert Kinscherff, PhD, JD, gave a talk on "The Neuroscience of Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: Implications for Policy and Practice" to the Maryland Commission on Juvenile Justice Reform and Emerging Best Practices. Invited by Judge Andre Davis (ret), Chair of the Commission, Drs. Kinscherff and Edersheim answered questions from Commission members appointed by Governor Wes Moore as part of the Office of Crime Prevention and Policy.

Neuroscience and Expert Witness Testimony: A Mock Trial at AAAS 2025

American Academy for the Advancement of Science | February 15, 2025

The American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) held its 2025 annual conference in Boston. On February 15, a mock trial hearing demonstrated the use of neuroscience expert testimony in sentencing an emerging young adult guilty of voluntary manslaughter. The hearing focused on the challenges and opportunities arising when broad findings of neuroscience research are applied to individual cases. The Honorable Judge Julie Bernard (ret.) presided over the mock hearing as expert witness (CLBB Executive Director Robert Kinscherff, PhD, JD) had direct examination by defense counsel (Ryan Schiff, Esq. - Strehorn, Ryan & Hoose) and cross-examination by ADA Alexandra Gordon, Esq. (Office of the District Attorney of Suffolk County). Francis Shen, PhD, JD (Director - Neurotech Justice Accelerator at Mass General Brigham) planned and moderated the mock trial hearing. The session was well-attended and sparked significant interest by participants from a wide variety of science disciplines.

Second Look Legislation: A Step Toward Juvenile Justice Reform

Nebraskans for Prison Reform | February 23, 2025

CLBB Executive Director Robert Kinscherff, PhD, JD, joined Nebraskans for Prison Reform (NPR) for an evening event in support of “Second Look” legislation. Among those present were Senator Rick Holdcroft (R.) who introduced this bipartisan bill creating a pathway for release eligibility for persons serving extreme sentences for crimes committed under age 20. He was joined by a large number of NPR supporters, Jason Whitman (ACLU of Nebraska), and Senators George Dungan (D.) and Terell McKinney (D.) for presentations on developmental neuroscience, extremely low recidivism rates among juvenile homicide offenders released in mid-adulthood, and broader policy implications. The evening concluded with virtual presentations by two older adults serving extreme sentences for youthful crimes. The presenters and NPR members joined Senator Holdcroft the following day at the Nebraska State Capital for a “Legislative Lunch” for further discussion of the bill. Senator Holdcroft is hopeful that bipartisan support will yield passage of the “Second Look” legislation this year.

Integrating the Science of Adolescent Brain Development Into Federal Criminal Practice

Montana Criminal Defense Attorneys Association and the Federal Defenders of Montana Joint Conference | March 13, 2025

CLBB Executive Director Robert Kinscherff, PhD, JD, gave a talk at the joint conference of the Montana Criminal Defense Attorneys Association and the Federal Defenders of Montana at Chico Hot Springs, Montana. His presentation, titled "Integrating the Science of Adolescent Brain Development Into Federal Criminal Practice," was followed by a session led by Attorney Larry D. Mansch, titled "One Hundred Years Beyond Good and Evil: A Fresh Look at Leopold, Loeb, Darrow, and the Crime of the Century." The two sessions explored the state of science in 1923, when prominent “alienists” testified at the sentencing hearing of the two young men, and compared it to the advancements in the field a century later, in 2025.

When Science Meets Justice: Adolescent Brain Development on Trial

NCJFCJ | March 17, 2025

CLBB Executive Director Robert Kinscherff, PhD, JD, gave a presentation at the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges' annual judicial education conference in Boston, MA. His talk, "When Science Meets Justice: Adolescent Brain Development on Trial," reviewed the state of developmental neuroscience, the challenges and opportunities involved in applying research to individual cases, and the legal tests for determining the reliability and relevance of science in legal proceedings. Follow-up discussions reflect widespread national interest in the use of brain science in juvenile and family court proceedings—from initial police contacts and Miranda police interrogations to higher court reviews of extreme sentences for young persons convicted of serious crimes.

CLBB Demos the CLBB NeuroLaw Library at Maine Correctional Center

Maine DOC | March 7, 2025 

The CLBB NeuroLaw Library team, led by CLBB NeuroLaw Library Director Stephanie Tabashneck, PsyD, JD, and including Lily Reid, Dr. Katie Lamp, Amanda Chen, and Dr. Robert Kinscherff, engaged with incarcerated residents, senior Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) staff, and administrators at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham for an in-depth discussion on neuroscience and the law. Dr. Tabashneck presented on landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases and the neuroscience behind self-desistance, substance use, and behavioral change, highlighting how brain maturation and positive social engagement shape long-term outcomes. The team also conducted a listening session on the user experience of residents of the facility using the CLBB NeuroLaw Library, which was created to make neuroscience-related legal knowledge more accessible. Maine DOC leadership and the CLBB NeuroLaw Library team are exploring ways to deepen collaboration and bring cutting-edge neuroscience into criminal justice reform.

The Center for Law, Brain & Behavior Launches a New NeuroLaw Library

MGH Psychiatry News | March 10, 2025

The CLBB NeuroLaw Library was recently highlighted by MGH Psychiatry News as a groundbreaking new resource aimed at bridging the gap between neuroscience and the legal system. The first-of-its kind database provides open access to the most accurate research and clinical findings in neuroscience to educate and assist judges, attorneys, legislators, policy analysts and advocates. The library provides a curated collection of case law, scientific articles, policy papers, expert affidavits, amicus briefs, sample motions, and sample affidavits, as well as educational videos, a neurolaw dictionary and toolkits for attorneys and incarcerated persons.

Vanderbilt Law Black History Month Keynote Address

Vanderbilt Law School | February 17, 2025

In February, Paul Butler, JD, Georgetown University, delivered the Black History Month Keynote Address at Vanderbilt Law School. In his speech, Butler highlighted critical aspects of the history of disproportionate incarceration of black individuals in the U.S., drawing on his personal experience as a former prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice. He also addressed the issue of police violence against black communities and emphasized the urgent need for reform in both the U.S. policing and prison systems, particularly in their interactions with black communities.

Why the Big Cuts in US Science and Research?

Australian Broadcasting Corporation | March 7, 2025

Neal Baer, MD, Harvard Medical School, recently appeared on The Science Show with host Robyn Williams to discuss the current U.S. government's stance on certain scientific research topics, particularly gender-related therapies. In the interview, Baer underscores the serious impact of policies enacted during the Trump administration that deny essential care to transgender youth. He also delves into themes from his recently edited book, The Promise and Peril of CRISPR, exploring emerging technologies and their potential implications for the future of medicine.

The Theory of Constructed Emotion: More Than a Feeling

PsyArXiv Preprints | January 2025

Lisa Feldman Barrett, PhD, Northeastern University, co-authored a response to a recent paper by van Heijst, Kret, and Ploeger, which attempted to reconcile basic emotion theory and the theory of constructed emotion. Barrett and her colleagues point out three key oversimplifications in the paper that misrepresent the theory of constructed emotion. They argue that the two theories are incompatible, as they are based on different assumptions and require different evaluation methods. Barrett’s response calls for moving beyond this binary approach to emotion to advance a more accurate and practical understanding of emotion science.

Affective Visual Circuit Dysfunction in Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders

Biological Psychiatry | February 10, 2025

Kerry Ressler, MD, PhD, McLean Hospital, and colleagues explored the impact of traumatic stress on brain regions involved in visual processing. The study highlights how exposure to traumatic stress can disrupt both the brain's threat response circuitry and its visual processing system. Specifically, the research found that individuals exposed to trauma showed greater deactivation in the visual cortex compared to those without such exposure. The findings suggest that these changes in visual processing could play a role in the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), offering new insights into how traumatic stress affects both threat and visual circuits in the brain.

Prediction of Early-Onset Bipolar Using Electronic Health Records

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry | February 18, 2025

Jordan T. Smoller, MD, SCD, Massachusetts General Hospital, and colleagues conducted a study to explore how machine learning could be used to predict early-onset bipolar disorder in youth. By analyzing health data from patients in the Mass General Brigham system, the researchers developed models that can identify those at risk for developing the disorder. Their findings show that machine learning can effectively spot early signs of bipolar disorder, providing an important tool for early intervention and better clinical decision-making.