Juvenile Justice Reforms On Tap This Week In Lansing

Bills reforming juvenile justice laws in Michigan are on tap in the legislature after lawmakers return from their Thanksgiving break this week.

The bills return the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to 18. Currently Michigan allows 17-year olds to be automatically tried as adults.

Another bill in the package allows juveniles to be housed in the same facility with adult prisoners as long as they’re isolated or in solitary confinement.

Dave Maluchnik of the Michigan Catholic Conference says 17 year olds should not be in any facility that includes adult prison inmates, because at 17, they’re simply not adults.