All were between the ages of 11 and 15 when they committed their crimes. The maturity gap is the discrepancy between biological maturity and social maturity. In other words, there is a long lag between the time young people hit puberty and the time they are assigned adult status. He or she is about to enter or already is in high school. All adult avenues are cut off.
Work basically is impossible at that age.
Young teens are not able to drive, and the driving age is being raised in some states. They are restricted from smoking until age 18, even though their counterparts 20 years ago could smoke with abandon. Youngsters are told not to have sex at a time when their hormones are raging. Teen curfews, increasingly popular, keep them cooped up. Imagine your frustration at 13 when you realize that these infantilizing restrictions will continue until you are at least 18 - a period equal to almost half your life to date.