Theories of judgment in decision making hypothesize that throughout adolescence, judgment is impaired because the development of several psychosocial factors that are presumed to influence decision making lags behind the development of cognitive capacities that are required to make mature decisions. This study used an innovative video technique to examine the role of several psychosocial factors, temporal perspective, peer influence, and risk perception, in adolescent criminal decision making. Data were collected on 56 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 years. Results revealed that detained youth were more likely to think of future oriented consequences of engaging in the video depicted delinquent act and less likely to anticipate pressure from their friends than non-detained youth. Examination of the developmental functions of the psychosocial factors indicates age-based differences on standardized measures risk perception in criminal decision making. Assessments of criminal responsibility and culpability were predicted by age and ethnicity. The study suggests that if adolescents have less developed decision making capabilities, then the rationale for a juvenile justice system that holds adolescents to adult-like standards of criminal responsibility and culpability is challenged. Appendices, and references