The significance of executive functioning in juvenile justice interventions: insights from clinical practice

Objective: Juvenile justice institutions (JJIs) aim to reduce recidivism and promote resocialization by tailoring interventions to youths' risks and needs. Executive functioning (EF)-cognitive processing supporting adaptive, goal-directed behavior-is closely linked to behavioral regulation and risk for delinquency. Given its continued development into early adulthood, EF is a potential target for intervention. However, it is still unclear how EF is incorporated into forensic clinical practice. This study explored how EF, and neuropsychological explanations more broadly, currently contribute to clinical decision-making within JJIs. Method: This qualitative study explored the significance of EF in clinical decision-making within JJIs. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 13 coordinating clinicians from four Dutch JJIs. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Four themes described the current role of EF in JJI practice: (1) general awareness and knowledge of EF, (2) the significance of EF in intervention planning, (3) the use of information on EF during intervention, and (4) challenges and opportunities for further integrating knowledge about EF in interventions. Across themes, EF, and neuropsychology in general, played a limited role. EF was typically considered implicitly, due to dominance of social-behavioral explanatory models of behavior and limited available information on individual youth's EF. Conclusion: Findings indicate that the contribution of EF in juvenile forensic practice regarding assessment, daily support and intervention is limited and largely implicit. By highlighting challenges and opportunities for integrating neuropsychological perspectives in daily juvenile forensic practice, this study provides valuable insights for translating neuropsychological knowledge into forensic youth care.