Juvenile Trends

This week, Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Congressman David Trone (MD-06), and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) introduced a resolution designating October 2024 as National Youth Justice Action Month. The resolution sheds light on the collateral consequences youth face when they are treated as adults in the criminal justice system and encourages the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to prioritize rehabilitation and support over wasteful incarceration. Earlier this week, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced a companion resolution in the U.S. Senate. “For over 20 years, I have worked alongside my colleagues, experts, practitioners, advocates, and individuals to fight on behalf of youth [...]

October is Youth Justice Action Month Youth Justice Action Month  Theme “YOUth Are Worth It” Request for activation and outreach to support YJAM- YJAM Social Media Toolkit Proclamations, etc. Follow our social media platforms and help us uplift YJAM Resolutions introduced on September 25th (H.Res 1503; S. Res 871)

In a Detroit New article titled “Washtenaw prosecutor won’t charge juveniles for low-level crimes” Oralandar Brand-Williams reports that newly elected Washtenaw County prosecutor, Eli Savit, announced that his office will no longer prosecute children for low-level crimes. Read more: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/01/25/washtenaw-prosecutor-wont-charge-juveniles-low-level-crimes/6701793002/

Joseph Ryan, a member of MCJJ and professor of social work at the University of Michigan, was recently highlighted for his work with MCJJ in an article posted to the faculty news section of the university's Public Engagement & Outreach site.

The Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) is looking for young people who are interested in applying to participate in an institute that will focus on police and youth engagement. This event will bring together youth from across the country to share their thoughts and experiences with law enforcement leaders. Participants will take part in a two-day long training and conversation in Scottsdale, Az., on July 24-26, 2018. Applications will be accepted through May 18, 2018. To apply, please complete the online survey (available here). A Word version is available here. For additional details click here. This effort is funded by the U.S. [...]

Thursday, March 29, 2018 Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the initial appointments to the restructured Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice. Created by Executive Order 2012-1, the committee advises the governor on juvenile justice issues and guides effective implementation of juvenile justice policies and programs. The recent signing of Executive Order 2017-12 restructured the committee to be composed of between 15 and 33 members to comply with the federal Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act. "I thank these individuals for their dedication to the juvenile justice system,” Snyder said. “Their vast and diverse experience gives me confidence in their ability to [...]

The Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice is currently looking for youth members ages 24 and under who might be interested in serving on the committee.  Individuals interested in applying for membership should contact Melinda Fandel, Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice Coordinator, at fandelm@michigan.gov.

Justice Mary Beth Kelly, Chair of the Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice (MCJJ), has been appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice (FACJJ). Justice Kelly will serve as the primary member for Jurisdiction I, which includes Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. During her two-year term, she will play an important role in conveying the FACJJ’s perspectives on juvenile justice issues to the President, Members of Congress, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) Administrator. “It is an honor to be appointed to FACJJ and serve with some of the brightest minds in the [...]

This trend is a result of concern about high incarceration rates and growing neurological evidence that young people’s brains are different from adult brains. You can read the article here. Source: New York Times; Friday, May 13, 2016

Those 17 and under would be placed into the juvenile criminal justice system instead of the current 16 and under, except for the most serious crimes, under legislation unanimously approved Tuesday by the House Criminal Justice Committee. Supporters are hailing the wide-ranging bill package as a major criminal justice reform that would place 17-year-olds accused of crimes in a system better designed to address their needs than placing them in the adult system with the possibility of going to an adult prison. Juveniles accused of murder, sexual assault, arson, assault with intent to commit murder and armed robbery would [...]