Bill Text: MI HR0255 | 2013-2014 | 97th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: A resolution to declare October 2013 as Juvenile Justice Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)

Status: (Passed) 2013-10-24 - Adopted [HR0255 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2013-HR0255-Enrolled.html

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            Reps. Haveman, Brown, Durhal, Geiss, Howrylak and Slavens offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 255.

            A resolution to declare October 2013 as Juvenile Justice Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, The historical role of the juvenile justice system is to rehabilitate and treat young offenders while holding them accountable for their actions, and also maintaining public safety. It is therefore acknowledged that, when public safety allows, keeping youth within their families, homes, and community is a best practice; and

            Whereas, Youth are developmentally different from adults and these differences are documented by research on the adolescent brain and acknowledged by many state and federal laws that treat youth disparately based upon their age and stage of development; and

            Whereas, Most laws allowing the prosecution of youth as adults were enacted prior to evidence produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention that demonstrate that about 70-80% of youth treated in a punitive, non-therapeutic program will reoffend; and

            Whereas, It is estimated that over 70% of children in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health condition, of these 30% have a serious emotional disturbance; and          

Whereas, Where public safety allows, youth detained or involved in the juvenile justice system should be kept in the least restrictive setting possible with family inclusion and services provided to aide in treatment; and

            Whereas, 200,000 youth are tried, sentenced, or incarcerated as adults every year in the United States and most of the youth are prosecuted for non­violent offenses; and

Whereas, Youth with criminal records generally face hurdles with regard to education and employment ; and

            Whereas, Moving a youth from the adult criminal justice system into community-based services or to the juvenile justice system is generally more cost­effective; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare October 2013 as Juvenile Justice Awareness Month in the state of Michigan. We express our appreciation for the proactive leadership of Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency, The Association for Children’s Mental Health, Citizens for Prison Reform and State Agencies, quality improvement partners, and consumer advocates.