Neuroscience and Restorative Justice: A New Approach to Understanding and Rehabilitating Young People in Carceral Institutions

• In Event: Poster Session 2

Abstract

Advanced structural neuroimaging techniques aim to investigate the peculiarities of brain anatomy development among young offenders and adult inmates, providing insights into the impact of these differences on free will, rehabilitation, and criminal responsibility. The incorporation of fractal geometry into this analysis allows for a deeper understanding of brain structures, potentially correlating these patterns with behavioral tendencies and cognitive functions. This method could offer a more accurate assessment of the brain's structural complexity, improving evaluations of an individual's ability to regulate behavior and make decisions.

By linking neuroanatomical features to decision-making processes and impulse control, the research aims to assess the degree of criminal responsibility of an individual and their potential for rehabilitation, especially in young offenders. The anticipated results aim to inform more personalized and appropriate rehabilitation programs, which could reduce recidivism rates and facilitate better social reintegration.

Emphasizing a restorative rather than purely punitive approach, the study advocates for the integration of scientific evidence into legal proceedings, particularly when determining appropriate responses to juvenile criminal behavior. This approach underlines the importance of a system based on restorative justice, supporting rehabilitation based on a solid understanding of brain development and its implications for free will and criminal responsibility.

Authors

• Franco Posa, NeuroIntelligence (Private Research Institute in Forensic Neuroscience and Criminology)

• Chiara Ciuffreda, NeuroIntelligence

• Matteo Posa, NeuroIntelligence (Private Research Institute)

• Francesco Sclavi, NeuroIntelligence

• Vanessa Vener, NeuroIntelligence