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Main post - Heather Blachowicz

Cristian Fernandez, who at age 12 became the youngest person in Florida to be charged as an adult for murder, raises fundamental questions about how the justice system should view young offenders. Based on developmental science, he should not be treated as an adult within the justice system.

Adolescents like Cristian are still undergoing critical brain development, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, which governs impulse control, judgment, and the ability to foresee long-term consequences. Youth are more susceptible to peer influence, demonstrate underdeveloped self-control, and often lack the maturity to navigate stressful situations effectively. As Bechtold & Cauffman (2014) emphasize, the juvenile court was created precisely because of these developmental immaturities and the recognition that juveniles are less culpable and more amenable to rehabilitation than adults.

Cristian's case highlights these issues. Research shows that even when youth commit serious crimes, they are not necessarily persistent or irredeemable offenders. In fact, Bechtold & Cauffman found that youth tried in adult court did not engage in higher rates of violence while incarcerated than their peers tried in juvenile court. Some were even first-time offenders, meaning they never had a chance of rehabilitation in the juvenile system before being exposed to harsher adult processes. This applies directly to Cristian, who had a traumatic childhood history and was thrust into an adult system without fully developed coping or decision-making skills.

The community often responds to serious juvenile crimes with fear and a demand for retribution, focusing on the severity of the offense rather than the developmental status of the offender. Transfer laws are built on the assumption that some youths are "beyond rehabilitation." However, this overlooks evidence that juveniles' brains and behaviors are malleable and responsive to treatment. As Bechtold & Cauffman point out, housing youth in adult facilities leads to increased risks of victimization, suicide, and recidivism. In contrast, juvenile facilities can provide education, counseling, and tailored rehabilitative services.

In practice, communities often fail to consistently account for developmental differences. Adult trials of juveniles, such as Cristian's, prioritize punishment and public safety over rehabilitation, often exposing young people to environments that exacerbate criminality rather than reduce it. When juveniles are confined in adult facilities, they are more likely to reoffend and suffer abuse. In contrast, when kept in juvenile facilities, they receive developmentally appropriate services and are more likely to reintegrate successfully.

Cristian Fernandez should not have been viewed as an adult within the justice system. His case illustrates how developmental science, as supported by Bechtold & Cauffman (2014), underscores juveniles' diminished culpability and heightened potential for rehabilitation. Communities that fail to consider these differences risk perpetuating cycles of harm and recidivism rather than fostering accountability and growth.

References:

Bechtold, J., & Cauffman, E. (2014). Tried as an adult, housed as a juvenile: A tale of youth from two courts incarcerated together. Law and Human Behavior, 38(2), 126-138.