The Detroit News recently published an editorial calling for strong state efforts to protect juvenile offenders and keep them out of prison.
The editorial supports the juvenile justice agenda of Governor Rick Snyder, including efforts to provide home-based and community-based treatment programs rather than lock juveniles up. Diversion programs in Livingston County, the News reports, led to a 66% reduction in the number of days youth spent in out-of-home placements from 2011 to 2014.
“State and local officials should invest in programs that have proven track records,” the editorial concludes. “This is the best way to keep young offenders from becoming adult offenders.”
You can read the full editorial here.
