Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week signed two bills to reform Michigan’s juvenile justice system and better position Michigan’s youth for successful adulthoods.
The bills expand Michigan’s Indigent Defense Commission duties to include indigent defense of youth, so every youth in the juvenile justice system can access representation and allow certain information sharing for research purposes in juvenile justice cases.
These bills implement recommendations by the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform, an effort led and co-chaired by Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist.
“We’re working hard to give every young person in Michigan the resources they need to thrive,” said Whitmer. “Thanks to Lt. Governor Gilchrist’s leadership, we’ve invested over $50 million to implement the recommendations of the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform and build a fairer juvenile justice system. These two bills will help us build on this progress, ensuring kids can access legal representation and making our system more data driven. Let’s keep working together to empower more Michiganders to ‘make it’ in Michigan.”
“Every young person deserves the chance to be successful,” said Gilchrist. “As chair of the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform, I’m proud of our work to change how young Michiganders experience the justice system and improve their outcomes.”
Senate Bill 081, sponsored by state Senator Sue Shink (D-Northfield Twp.), expands the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission act to include indigent defense of youth.
This ensures that youth who are unable to obtain legal representation for themselves, without substantial financial hardship, can use the commission’s services. The bill also prohibits youth from waiving their right to counsel unless they were advised on the consequences of the waiver and the waiver was on the record and in writing.
House Bill 4396, sponsored by state Representative Sarah Lightner (R-Springport), addresses the unavailability or unreliability of data found by the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform by allowing certain anonymized information of juvenile justice cases to be shared for research purposes. This bill will support researchers in accessing information that could help shape future policy to improve the juvenile justice system.
The bills expand Michigan’s Indigent Defense Commission duties to include indigent defense of youth, so every youth in the juvenile justice system can access representation and allow certain information sharing for research purposes in juvenile justice cases.
These bills implement recommendations by the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform, an effort led and co-chaired by Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist.
“We’re working hard to give every young person in Michigan the resources they need to thrive,” said Whitmer. “Thanks to Lt. Governor Gilchrist’s leadership, we’ve invested over $50 million to implement the recommendations of the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform and build a fairer juvenile justice system. These two bills will help us build on this progress, ensuring kids can access legal representation and making our system more data driven. Let’s keep working together to empower more Michiganders to ‘make it’ in Michigan.”
“Every young person deserves the chance to be successful,” said Gilchrist. “As chair of the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform, I’m proud of our work to change how young Michiganders experience the justice system and improve their outcomes.”
Senate Bill 081, sponsored by state Senator Sue Shink (D-Northfield Twp.), expands the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission act to include indigent defense of youth.
This ensures that youth who are unable to obtain legal representation for themselves, without substantial financial hardship, can use the commission’s services. The bill also prohibits youth from waiving their right to counsel unless they were advised on the consequences of the waiver and the waiver was on the record and in writing.
House Bill 4396, sponsored by state Representative Sarah Lightner (R-Springport), addresses the unavailability or unreliability of data found by the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform by allowing certain anonymized information of juvenile justice cases to be shared for research purposes. This bill will support researchers in accessing information that could help shape future policy to improve the juvenile justice system.
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