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
Mark your calendar for January 8 for a 0900 Zoom Forum with Kevin Mitchell, MPA, Director, Children’s Services, Washtenaw County, sharing the platform with Jessica Ashmore, Deputy 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
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.
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Support effective policies to eliminate the school-to-prison pipeline for Michigan’s children and young adults
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Educate and advocate for diversion and deflection in our schools and in our justice system to reduce mass incarceration and to promote public safety
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Abolish Life without parole for juvenile offenders
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Due process protections for youth suspended or expelled from school, reduce school exclusions
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Promote ‘Good Time’ Credits
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End Prison Gerrymandering
- Productivity credits legislation
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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:
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Legislation to Abolish life without parole (LWOP) sentences for juvenile offenders
- Senate Bill 848-851 State Senator Jeff Irwin
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Legislation to support Expulsion Prevention Bills (reduce school removals, protect students, and support due process)
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Senate Bills 634, 635, 636 State Senator Jeff Irwin
- House Bills 5297, 5298, 5299 State Representative Felicia Brabec
- Legislation 2021 End Prison Gerrymandering
- Senate Bill 151 State Senator Sylvia Santana
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HouseBill 4276 State Representative Sarah Anthony
- Legislation 2021 to reinstate Good Time Credits for those in Michigan prisons. Federal prisons have “good time” credits
- Senate Bill 649 State Senator Jeff Irwin
Link to LWVUS Impact issues National League positions, 'Operations and Governance,' 'Diversity, Equity, Inclusion,' 'content library,' and more.
Presentations by Key Experts
- May 2024, Implementing Juvenile Justice Reform, with The Honorable Patrick J. Conlin, Chief Judge Pro-tem of the Washtenaw County Trial Court and Presiding Judge of the Family Division
- March 2024, A Positive School Attendance Program Using Restorative Practices, with Anne Domanski, Restorative Justice Practitioner
- January 2024, Justice for Kids and Communities Act: Implementation Overview with Jason Smith Executive Director of Michigan Center for Youth Justice
- November 2023, How Unfair Laws and the Culture of Punishment in Schools Can Harm Children and Families with Erin Einhorn, award-winning journalist & author who has written for NBC News, New York Daily News, and Chalkbeat
- October 2023, Juvenile Justice Reform in Michigan, An update on Proposed Legislation with Jason Smith, Executive Director of Michigan Center for Youth Justice
- May 2023, Eli Savit on the Governor's Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform with Eli Savit, Washtenaw County Prosecutor
- March 2023, Governor Whitmer's Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform with Jason Smith, Executive Director, Michigan Center for Youth Justice and Kimberly Thomas, Co-director, Juvenile Justice Clinic, University of Michigan Law School
- January 2023, Toward Racial Equity in Washtenaw County with Racial Equity Officer Alize Asberry Payne
- December 2022, Supportive Connections: Keeping "At Risk Individuals" Out of the Criminal Justice System with Karen Field and Jonathan Laye
- October 12 2022, New Initiatives at the Washtenaw Youth Center with Terrence Williams
- August 3, 2022, Paths to Success, Formula 734 uses music to work with young men of color with Jamall Bufford
- July 6 2022, Juvenile Justice Diversion Programs in the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office with Victoria Burton-Harris and Alyson Robbins
- July 2022, Speaking for Kids, the Podcast from Michigan's Children, Episode 13, Change is Coming: Youth and Michigan's Justice System 7/27/2022
- June 8, 2022, Protecting the Rights of Students Excluded from School with Peri Stone-Palmquist
- Feb 2022 Women, Children and Guns, with Patrick Carter MD (Children's Justice study group)
- Feb 2022 Fines and Fees - Debt Free Justice – with Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton
- Sept. 2021 Partners for Justice: Washtenaw County's Criminal Justice Collaborative Council
- Aug. 2021 Policing, Justice and Community: an anthropological perspectiv
- July 2021 Criminal Justice Reform: How is Washtenaw County Doing?
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
School Suspension & Expulsion Guidance | Michigan.gov
In Michigan, juvenile justice carries high cost: crippling debt for parents | Bridge Michigan
Senate, House tee up bills to end juvenile life without parole | Michigan Advance
Michigan Needs Statewide Approach for Reforming Juvenile Justice | Bridge Michigan
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
Dispute Resolution Center of Washtenaw County
https://www.washtenaw.org/3289/Prosecutor-Transparency-Project
https://www.citizensforracialequitywashtenaw.org/crew-s-report
https://www.miyouthjustice.org/
"Scales of Justice Lawyer" by allenallen1910 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
