The House is introducing a
21-bill package this week to reform juvenile justice in the state. This package
will end automatically trying 17 year olds as adults and will prohibit the
placement of minors under 18 in adult facilities. Instead, minors will be
provided access to age appropriate rehabilitation.
The package also includes:
increasing the County Child Care Fund reimbursement by 25 percent; requiring equal
consideration of all mitigating factors prior to waiving jurisdiction in
juvenile waiver cases; ensuring age appropriate programming and exercise for
individuals under 21 in administrative segregation in prison; requiring public
monitoring and oversight under the Department of Corrections for those
committing offenses prior to 18; and establishing a family advisory board
within the Department of Corrections. The package omits safe or bank robbery,
escaping a juvenile facility, and drug possession or delivery of up to 1,000
grams from the list of specified offenses.
Representative Harvey
Santana (D-Detroit), lead sponsor of the bills, said these bills would be a
cost saving maneuver, however not right away. Chair of the House Criminal
Justice Committee Representative Kurt Heise (R-Plymouth) said the Committee
will soon be taking up the bills and is supportive of the package.
The Department of
Corrections, the Michigan Association of Counties, the Michigan Sheriff’s
Association, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Judges
Association and others formed to create a workgroup to craft the legislation.
Other legislators involved
include Senator Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge), who introduced a similar bill in
the Senate, Representative Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills), Representative
Martin Howrylak (R-Troy), Representative LaTanya Garrett (D-Detroit),
Representative Anthony Forlini (R- Harrison Township), Representative Chris
Afendoulis (R-Grand Rapids Township), Representative Dave Pagel (R-Berrien
Springs), Representative Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), Representative Leslie
Love (D-Detroit), and Representative Robert Kosowski (D-Westland).