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The lead sponsor of a package of bills that aims to revamp the state’s juvenile justice system plans to alter the legislation soon in hopes of moving it out of the Michigan House next month.
State Representative Harvey Santana, D-Detroit, says he’s planning to change the effective date to 2018 to give counties across the state time to report back on how much it costs to house juveniles.
He says county sheriff’s haven’t been able to give him a straight answer as to how much it costs them to keep teens in juvenile detention centers.
Right now the state and counties split that cost.
The centerpiece of the bill package is a measure to up the age someone can be charged as adult from 17 years old to 18 years old.
Counties are worried the additional cost of having to house 17 year olds will decimate their budget.
