About the Center

Providing responsible, ethical and scientifically sound translation of neuroscience into the legal arena.

Mission

The speed of technology in neuroscience as it impacts ethical and just decisions in the legal system needs to be understood by lawyers, judges, public policy makers, and the general public. The Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Law, Brain, and Behavior is an academic and professional resource for the education, research, and understanding of neuroscience and the law. Read more

Click image to see an overview of our work.

The Center for Law, Brain & Behavior puts the most accurate and actionable neuroscience in the hands of judges, lawyers, policymakers and journalists—people who shape the standards and practices of our legal system and affect its impact on people’s lives. We work to make the legal system more effective and more just for all those affected by the law.

Though the brain and the law are both complex, our work is quite simple. We provide expert training, tools and counsel, helping members of the legal community understand and apply the most relevant brain science to the cases, courtroom procedures and policies they influence.

CLBB supports a wide range of actors across the legal ecosystem, including judges, lawyers, standard-setting authorities, case workers, pretrial administrators, parole and enforcement agents, and financial planners. We also support those working across the media landscape who can accurately inform the public about the brain, human behavior and the justice system.

The Center is led by accomplished legal and medical experts—practitioners, researchers and thought leaders—based at Harvard Law School, Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and other leading institutions of learning.

CLBB works with partners as diverse as the Federal Judicial Center, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National District Attorneys Association, the American Bar Association, and the Flaschner Judicial Institute.

Since our founding in 2008, we have demonstrated the clear benefits of accurately applied neuroscience: better decisions aligned with science lead to better outcomes aligned with justice.

The Brain Matters. Science Matters. Justice Matters.

Events

Publications

Resources

  • Harvard Catalyst announces pilot funding for adolescent mental health

    The Child Health Program put out an RFA for research on mood dysregulation and violence in the second decade of life. »

    admin2 - October 9, 2014

  • Elder Justice Initiative

    The Elder Justice website intends to be a resource for victims of elder abuse and financial exploitation and their families, practitioners, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and researchers. »

    US Department of Justice and admin2 - October 7, 2014