State task force to look at juvenile justice reform

By Anna Liz Nichols
Associated Press/Report for America

LANSING (AP) — A task force will examine Michigan’s treatment of juveniles in the state's criminal justice system as well as factors that lead to youth getting caught up in that system, according to an executive order signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The creation of the Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform was announced Wednesday in Lansing.

Youth advocates, government officials and members of the criminal justice system will examine areas where Michigan needs to better serve youth and reduce recidivism in young people, Whitmer said.

“We have a lot of work to do to address juvenile justice in Michigan,” she said, “and start to take an honest look and an honest assessment of where we are.

The state of Michigan “still detains youth at one of the highest rates in the nation and still detains youth for non-criminal behavior,” according to the governor.

“This has to change,” Whitmer said.

Michigan has seen a year of great bipartisan criminal justice reform in the form of several bill being signed into law to limit pre-trial incarceration, license suspensions and a series of  “Clean Slate” criminal record bills, but it still has a long way to go in properly serving youths, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II said.

Gilchrist referenced one incident that garnered national attention last summer.

A 15-year-old suburban Detroit girl was sent to a juvenile facility for failing to complete her schoolwork. ProPublica reported that the girl had ADHD and struggled to transition to online learning and fell behind.

“One mistake must not define a child’s life,” Gilchrist said. “We must have systems in place that educate and support our children, especially when they make mistakes when they’re facing traumatic circumstances or come into contact with our legal system.”

The task force is going to examine the practices of other states who have successfully implemented support systems for youth to avoid and start over after they’ve made a mistake, Gilchrist said.

“Step by step, Michigan has been addressing problems that have plagued our justice system for years. Each step along the way has been bipartisan, built on partnerships, and driven by data,” said Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Clement. “This task force will be successful because the governor has adopted that same model and because everyone here is committed to reimagining a juvenile justice system that is more collaborative, evidence-based, focused on best practices, and ready to help every youth achieve success.”

“This is a once in a generation opportunity to bring local and state leaders together to improve Michigan’s juvenile justice system,” said Jason Smith, executive director of the Michigan Center for Youth Justice. “The most successful juvenile justice systems are those that take every opportunity to keep kids out of the system and in their communities, which requires strong collaboration and service supports at a local level.

In April of 2019, Whitmer created the bipartisan Michigan Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration, chaired by Gilchrist and Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack, which  reviewed the state’s jail and court data to expand alternatives to jail, safely reduce jail admissions and length of stay, and improve the effectiveness of the front end of Michigan’s justice system.

These recommendations inspired legislation that was signed by Whitmer in January.

The Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform is expected to have a data-driven report with policy recommendations finished by late July in 2022.
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Anna Liz Nichols is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.