The Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice (MCJJ) provides advice, suggestions and solutions to the Governor on juvenile justice issues. It works collaboratively with the Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies. The Committee has been instrumental in changing practices, policies, and philosophies to improve the juvenile justice system.
The Committee has adopted five priority areas. These are:
- Data
- Diversion
- School-Justice Partnership
- Raise the Age for Juvenile Jurisdiction in Michigan
- Establishment of Mental Health Courts
The Committee distributes grants to support community prevention, intervention aftercare and reintegration services to youth. Other grants focus on technological advances needed to meet OJJDP data-collection and analysis requirements.
The mission of the MCJJ is to advise the Governor on matters related to juvenile justice legislation and administration, to mobilize communities to develop and implement prevention services, and to create a strategic plan that sets standards, determines priorities and allocates funds for successful delinquency prevention and rehabilitative programs.
The vision of the MCJJ is to be a national leader in the prevention of and treatment of juvenile delinquency. Through forward looking leadership, innovative programs and services, and commitment to comprehensive partnerships, the Bureau of Juvenile Justice will be instrumental in building safe and supportive communities.
Created in 1975, the MCJJ is an important liaison with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), an office of the federal Department of Justice. It is required to develop and implement a juvenile justice plan that is submitted to OJJDP every three years. The plan includes strategies for monitoring and compliance of four core requirements of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act:
- Deinstitutionalization of status offenders (juveniles whose offense would not be a crime if the act were committed by an adult)
- Separation of adults and juveniles in secured facilities
- Removing juveniles from adult jails and lockups
- Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities
The MCJJ created this Web site as a resource and information-sharing tool for examining crime and arrest data, including trends across the state.