House Judiciary Committee approves crucial juvenile justice reforms

State Rep. Graham Filler, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said a plan approved by the committee today would improve the way 17-year-olds are treated in Michigan’s criminal justice system, ultimately resulting in brighter futures for teenage offenders.

Filler, who sponsored the plan alongside a bipartisan group of his colleagues, said Michigan is one of just four states to automatically prosecute all 17-year-olds as adults – even those who commit the most minor offenses. He said eliminating this outdated practice will help rehabilitate young offenders and reduce the likelihood of them breaking the law again in the future.

“Sending young, non-violent offenders to live among dangerous felons in prison creates a harmful situation that can have long-lasting consequences,” said Filler, of DeWitt. “Teenagers in adult prison face a greater chance of being subjected to violence and sexual assault, and they often struggle to re-enter society upon their release.

“Keeping 17-year-olds in the juvenile justice system allows them to receive age-appropriate rehabilitation services and access critical educational and technical training opportunities. They leave the system better prepared to lead successful, productive lives.”

The proposal would raise the age at which individuals are considered adults for the purposes of prosecuting and adjudicating criminal offenses, allowing 17-year-olds to be treated as minors within the juvenile system in most circumstances beginning Oct. 1, 2021. Prosecutors would continue to have discretion, allowing them to waive minors who commit violent crimes into the adult system when appropriate.

The measure also includes a funding plan to ensure local communities do not incur any additional costs associated with keeping 17-year-old offenders in the juvenile system, which is administered at the local level.

Filler – who spent a significant amount of time working with judges, prosecutors, criminal justice reform experts and others to fine tune the legislation – said funding was the key sticking point that halted similar reform efforts in the past.

“Everyone agrees that raising the age is what’s best for Michigan, we just had to work out all of the details,” Filler said. “I’m incredibly pleased we were able to come up with a solution a majority of the various stakeholders can support.”

Filler said the proposal is expected to save public tax dollars over time. Other states that have raised the age have downsized their juvenile justice systems and lowered both short-term and long-term costs. Including 17-year-olds in the juvenile system has been shown to reduce reoffending by 34 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

“My goal is to find solutions that result in a more effective and efficient criminal justice system,” Filler said. “This reform is a huge step in the right direction.”

House Bills 4133-46, 4443 and 4452 now move to the full House for consideration.

###