Tyeca Reviere

Date of Submission

2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Department Chair

Stephanie Felgoise, PhD, ABPP, Chair

First Advisor

Ashley Poole, Psy.D

Second Advisor

Susan M. Panichelli Mindel, PhD

Third Advisor

Meghan Perrin, PhD

Abstract

The United States is one of the only countries in the world that sentences juveniles to life without parole. In the United States, over 2,500 juveniles as young as the age of 13 are serving life in prison sentences without the possibility of parole. In 2012, the Supreme Court case Miller v. Alabama determined that sentencing a juvenile to life without parole was unconstitutional. Forensic psychologists, psychiatrists, and lawyers assist in resentencing juveniles by determining if a juvenile is incorrigible (not rehabilitated). The method of determining incorrigibility regarding juvenile resentencing has not been standardized or well-defined amongst professionals in psychology and law. The objective of the study was to explore forensic psychologists', forensic psychiatrists', and lawyers' perceptions and understanding of determining incorrigibility for juveniles sentenced to life in prison without parole. The study utilized a qualitative and exploratory methodology, using two different vignettes where a juvenile received life without parole (LWOP). Participants in the study were asked to identify factors that contribute to determining incorrigibility in both vignettes and the specific factors that played a role in making their decision. Results highlighted trends in participants' responses related to deciding incorrigibility (age of the juvenile at the time of the offense, prior criminal/substance abuse history, education history, codefendants involved in crime, incarceration history). Additionally, 80% of participants discussed the utility of a standardized assessment manual to guide them when conducting juvenile resentencing cases.

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