What juvenile defense means for Michigan

By: Jason Smith, Kristen Staley, Peter Cunningham

Outlets: Michigan Advance

Published: July 30, 2026

Words: 486

Last Updated: 4 days, 8 hours ago


Body Text Preview

In 2023, a landmark legislative package passed, introducing significant reforms to Michigan’s juvenile justice system. The Justice for Kids and Communities Act initially contained 20 bills based on the recommendations of the Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform. In the end, 19 bills passed the state legislature with bipartisan support, leaving legislation that would protect youths’ right to counsel behind.

Three years later, after relentless advocacy for advocates, attorneys, policymakers, and the community, that 20th …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Register for Free Log in