Michigan House and Senate Pass Juvenile Defense Bill

ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Late last week, the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives passed a long-awaited bill that will help ensure every young person in Michigan has access to high-quality legal representation, regardless of where they live or their family's financial circumstances.

Senate Bill 81, a bipartisan effort, would provide the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) authority to establish statewide standards for juvenile defense services, bringing the same level of oversight and quality improvement that has strengthened adult indigent defense across the state. Juvenile defense was the final bill from the sweeping reforms in the 2023 Justice for Kids and Communities Act that was not included in the legislative package when it passed. 

“Having an attorney with training and experience in juvenile-specific law can be a life-changing difference for a youth who gets involved with the justice system,” said Jen Peacock, Michigan Center for Youth Justice Policy Director. “Our youth deserve the support they need to navigate a complicated system. Thanks to the leadership of sponsors Rep. Lightner and Sen. Shink and the many advocates working on this issue, we are another step closer to a fairer, more effective and more equitable justice system for all of Michigan’s youth.”

The Michigan Center for Youth Justice and our many partners have been advocating for this bill since 2022.

The legislation is now awaiting the governor’s signature.

Contact: Natasha Blakely, nblakely@miyouthjustice.org

Michigan Center for Youth Justice (MCYJ) is an advocacy nonprofit based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that has been working on reforms in the justice system since 1956. MCYJ is dedicated to creating a fair and effective justice system for our state’s youth. It does that by advocating for equitable policy reform and supporting community partners to effect change. For more information, go to https://www.miyouthjustice.org/