Juvenile Justice and Justice for All

Juvenile Justice and Justice for All

Scales of justice image

 Welcome to the

Juvenile Justice and Justice for All Advocacy Team

of LWV of Washtenaw County.

Plase join our team! We are a small but mighty group. Email justice [at] lwvwashtenaw.org for more information 

Event: January 8, 2025
Forum - Kevin Mitchell, Jessica Ashmore with LWV host Susan Randall

Mark your calendar for January 8 for a 0900 Zoom Forum with Kevin MitchellMPADirector, Children’s Services, Washtenaw County, sharing the platform with Jessica AshmoreDeputy Director, Washtenaw County Trial Court - Juvenile Division.      

Kevin & Jessica will educate us on Washtenaw County juvenile justice reforms, 3 months' use of the new controversial screening tool, as well as implications at the Detention Center. They will connect their discussion to implementation of the new landmark “Kids & Communities Act.”

Register in advance for this meeting here

VIEW our new video: Senator Jeff Irwin speaks about his vision for Juvenile justice reforms, both a retrospective and aspirations for moving forward. See below in 'Presentations by Key Experts'.

 

 

 

Juvenile Justice and Justice for All Advocacy Team

The LWV Michigan adopted Criminal Justice positions as part of the comprehensive LWV Michigan Social Policy Position (2020). Click here to access the LWV Michigan postions and then select "Social Policy". This supports an “effective, equitable, transparent” system and advocates for changing policing practices, sentencing, and incarceration practices that have dehumanized a large percentage of our population - particularly in communities of color.

The LWV of Washtenaw County supports these priorities.

 

  • Support effective policies to eliminate the school-to-prison pipeline for Michigan’s children and young adults
  • Educate and advocate for diversion and deflection in our schools and in our justice system to reduce mass incarceration and to promote public safety
  • Abolish Life without parole for juvenile offenders
  • Due process protections for youth suspended or expelled from school, reduce school exclusions
  • Promote ‘Good Time’ Credits
  • End Prison Gerrymandering
  • Productivity credits legislation
  • Repeal Truth in Sentencing, which dictates that a person must serve every day of the minimum sentence

 To visit or volunteer with our team, contact justice [at] lwvwashtenaw.org

LWV Criminal Justice, Juvenile Justice and Justice Reform Positions and Legislation

 Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform (July 2022) includes 32 recommendations based on "a data-driven analysis of (Michigan's) juvenile justice system" to provide practices and strategies for juvenile justice reform. Landmark Michigan legislation passed in December 2023, "Justice for Kids and Communities Act". See "Presentations by Keys Experts" below for more information. 

In our local and state League, we support particular legislation:

  • Legislation to Abolish life without parole (LWOP) sentences for juvenile offenders 

 Link to LWVUS Impact issues  National League positions, 'Operations and Governance,' 'Diversity, Equity, Inclusion,' 'content library,' and more.

LWV Headphones IconPresentations by Key Experts

Click here for the LWV Washtenaw County Advocacy Team's YouTube Playlist

News Articles from the Bridge, MLive, Press Releases

Critics Fear Reforms May Boost Incarcerations of Minority Youths in Michigan | Bridge Michigan

Lt. Governor Gilchrist Signs Bipartisan Bills Reforming Michigan's Juvenile Justice System | Michigan.gov

School Suspension & Expulsion Guidance | Michigan.gov

Michigan School Discipline Laws and Regulation | National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments

Washtenaw Equity partnership, Washtenaw County's Criminal Legal System | Washtenaw Equity Partnership.org

In Michigan, juvenile justice carries high cost: crippling debt for parents | Bridge Michigan

Causes and Condequences of the Staff Hiring and Retention Crisis: Juvenile Justice | CSG Justice Center

Senate, House tee up bills to end juvenile life without parole | Michigan Advance

Michigan Needs Statewide Approach for Reforming Juvenile Justice | Bridge Michigan

Michigan's Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reforms Approves Comprehensive Blueprint for Transforming Juvenile Justice Statewide | Michigan.gov 

Michigan has dramatically lowered the rate of inmates returning to prison | Bridge Michigan

Michigan Supreme Court limits use of restraints on juveniles | Bridge Michigan 

Whitmer launches bipartisan group to reform Michigan juvenile justice | Bridge Michigan 

Whitmer signs Clean Slate Michigan, allowing automatic felony expungement | Bridge Michigan

Other Resources on Justice Reform 

Video on what restorative justice looks like: 
            What is Restorative Justice  from Friends of Restorative Justice of Washtenaw County

           Dispute Resolution Center of Washtenaw County

Washtenaw County  Prosecutor Rollout of Restorative Justice

         https://www.washtenaw.org/3289/Prosecutor-Transparency-Project

Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice: 
         https://www.icpj.org

         https://www.citizensforracialequitywashtenaw.org/crew-s-report

Michigan Center for Youth Justice

        https://www.miyouthjustice.org/

News and Resources from the Annie E. Casey Foundation

 

 "Scales of Justice Lawyer" by allenallen1910 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

This page is related to which committees: 
Advocacy Committee