National Institute of Corrections Library

This report should be required reading for anyone working with juvenile or young adult offenders. It describes adolescent brain development and why juveniles and teenagers participate in reckless and antisocial behavior. “The brain regions and systems that play a large role in regulating emotion and behavior, as well as those that are involved in evaluating risks and rewards, are the ones most impacted during adolescence” (p. 1). This fact leads to questions regarding the motivation behind the criminal activity of an adolescent. Sections of this publication cover: adolescent brain development; adolescent brain development and the criminal justice system; culpability; competence; amenability; key points; and conclusion. Adolescents’ brains do not work the same way as those of adults. Their immature cognitive-control can lead them to impulsive and risk-taking actions that have little basis in long-term consequences. Unfortunately, these actions may therefore involve them in the criminal justice system. SOURCE: Mercyhurst College. Civic Institute (Erie, PA). Authored by Burillo, Kristen.

Common cognitive distortions that are found in the general and offender populations are described. “Cognitive distortions are simply ways that our mind convinces us of something that isn’t really true. These inaccurate thoughts are usually used to reinforce negative thinking or emotions — telling ourselves things that sound rational and accurate, but really only serve to keep us feeling bad about ourselves” (p. 1). Addressing these perceptions can help in changing offender behaviors so they can be more successful in the community. These are filtering, polarized thinking (it’s black or white), overgeneralization, jumping to conclusions, catastrophizing, personalization, control fallacies, fallacy of fairness, blaming, should, emotional reasoning, fallacy of change, global labeling, always being right, and heaven’s reward fallacy. SOURCE: psychcentral.com (Newburyport, MA). Authored by Grohol, John M..

The common criminal thinking errors are clarified in order to enable you to better recognize the behaviors of the offenders you work with. These thinking errors are anger, assuming, avoiding the hot iron of the past, blaming, confusion, excuses, fact stacking, fronting, grandiosity or maximizing, minimizing, helplessness, hopovers (changing the subject), hot shot or cockiness, the “I can’t” attitude, “It’s mine” or entitlement, justifying, keeping score, lack of empathy, “Let’s fight” or splitting, lying, making fools of, Mr. Goodguy, “my way or no way,” “Pet me” (meet my needs), powerplay (authority conflict), redefining, refusal to accept obligations, refusal to acknowledge fear, secretiveness, seeking sympathy, silent power, slacking, uniqueness, vagueness, victim stance, “You’re ok then I’m ok.” SOURCE: corrections.com (Quincy, MA). Authored by Barnhart, Tracey E..

"The goal of this RFP is to provide misdemeanor probation services to our customers, Monday-Friday and some Saturdays (as needed), while maintaining or improving current quantity and quality of customer services at no cost to Sumter County." This RFP is divided into five parts: intent and general information, evaluation and award, proposals submittal, proposals documents, and scope of services. SOURCE: Board of Sumter County Commissioners. Financial Services Department (Wildwood, FL).