Michigan Children's Law Center
2933 Caniff St., #12250
Hamtramck, MI 48212
Phone: (313) 833-6515
Web: https://www.miclc.org/
Lynda McGhee, Executive Director
Email: LawLynda@aol.com
Organization Profile
The Michigan Children's Law Center (MCLC) is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation, which provides legal services to children in the trial and appellate courts. Its mission is to advocate for the safety and well-being of children in the courts and through other programs and services.
Michigan Center for Youth Justice
1679 Broadway Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Phone: 517-927-0448
Web: https://www.miyouthjustice.org/
Twitter: @JusticeinMI
Jason Smith, Executive Director
Email: jsmith@miyouthjustice.org
Organization Profile
The Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency is statewide citizen-led criminal justice, public policy agency. The Council’s mission is to improve the effectiveness of policies and systems which address the prevention and control of crime and delinquency.
An ongoing focus of the Council has been to reduce the amount of state money spent on ineffective incarceration and to reinvest the savings in proven policies and programs in local communities.
The Council’s Strategic Approach:
- Shape public policy through data-driven advocacy.
- Inform the public.
- Educate service providers, policymakers, and justice professionals.
- Develop and test model programs and strategies.
Found 52 matches.
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Rapid Response: June Spotlight on NJJN COVID-19 Mini Grant Fund
NJJN provided $1,000 mini-grants for decarceration advocacy in light of Covid-19.
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Shut Down Sequel: Progress Report
Tags: Alabama | California | Michigan | Minnesota | Ohio | Oregon | Utah | Deinstitutionalization | Institutional Conditions | Mental Health and Substance Abuse | Privatization | Advocacy | NJJN Publications
Shut Down Sequel Progress Report, outlining progress made in our efforts to shut down Sequel facilities and advocate for systemic reforms. NJJN repeats its call for states to end ties with Sequel, but compel states to go further in implementing protections for kids by: 1) ending the use of for-profit facilities for youth, 2) banning the use of restraint, and 3) bringing youth home, prioritizing community-based care over harmful congregate care settings.
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Update: Michigan Center for Youth Justice Seeks Justice For Cornelius Fredricks
On May 1, 16-year-old Cornelius Frederick died after being restrained for throwing a sandwich at Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which is run by the national for-profit company Sequel Youth and Family Services. Such egregious use of force and tragic loss of life is appalling and is part of a pattern and practice of abuse that spans facilities and warrants immediate shut down.
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Press Release: Sequel Youth and Family Services Must Be Closed
The National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) demands the immediate shutdown of Sequel Youth and Family Services after 16-year-old Cornelius Frederick died at Lakeside Academy, a behavioral health institute in Kalamazoo, Michigan, run by the private facility management company. On April 29, Cornelius went into cardiac arrest and tragically died two days later after being restrained for throwing a sandwich.
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Raise the Age Legislation Passed in Michigan
After five years of persistent advocacy from a strong coalition of partners led by NJJN member Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency (MCCD), the state of Michigan finally raised the age of juvenile jurisdiction from 17 to 18 on October 31, 2019.
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Michigan Advocates Pass School Discipline Reforms, and More
Michigan advocates celebrated a series of 2016 victories reforming school discipline and more.
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Infographic: It Takes a Village - Diversion Resources for Police and Families
Tags: Connecticut | Illinois | Michigan | Nebraska | Nevada | Oregon | Brain and Adolescent Development | Community-Based Alternatives and Supervision | Deinstitutionalization | Status Offenses | Reports | Partner Publications
Summary of brief from Vera Institute of Justice explores the community-focused work being done in Nevada, Connecticut, Nebraska, Michigan, Illinois, and Oregon to find productive responses to youth "acting out."
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It Takes a Village: Diversion Resources for Police and Families
Tags: Connecticut | Illinois | Michigan | Nebraska | Nevada | Oregon | Brain and Adolescent Development | Community-Based Alternatives and Supervision | Deinstitutionalization | Status Offenses | Reports | Partner Publications
This brief from Vera Institute of Justice explores the community-focused work being done in Nevada, Connecticut, Nebraska, Michigan, Illinois, and Oregon to find productive responses to youth "acting out."
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Report on the Evaluation of Judicially Led Responses to Eliminate School Pathways to the Juvenile Justice System
Tags: California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Indiana | Kentucky | Massachusetts | Maryland | Michigan | North Carolina | New Mexico | Tennessee | School-to-Prison Pipeline | Reports | Research
Report on judicially-led collaboratives to reduce stringent school discipline and referrals of youth to juvenile courts for school-based behaviors. Discusses findings and some lessons learned. (Copyright 2015, released in June 2016.)
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NJJN Fellow, Rodd Monts, Works to Change Zero Tolerance
Interview with Youth Justice Leadership Institute Fellow Rodd Monts of the ACLU of Michigan.
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Progress Report: Michigan and Ohio Reforms
Legislative reforms progress in Michigan and Ohio
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A conservative case to 'raise the age' in Michigan
Tags: Michigan | Youth in the Adult System | Reports
This policy study from R Street makes the case for raising the age in Michigan from a conservative political standpoint.
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Michigan Lawmakers Introduce Bill Package with Focus on Building an Age-Appropriate System
Michelle Weemhoff of the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency explains a new bipartisan bill package aimed at making Michigan's youth justice system more age-appropriate for youth.
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10 Years of Juvenile Justice Reform: It's Our Birthday, and We'll Advocate if We Want To
NJJN's 10th anniversary kicks off. Celebrates reform principles and role of advocates: example of Michigan member championing reform of juvenile justice re-entry.
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10 Years of Juvenile Justice Reform: Why Youth Re-entry Matters
NJJN's 10th anniversary kicks off, focuses on re-entry for youth in trouble with the law and role of advocates. Example from Michigan of advocate championing reform in youth re-entry.
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E-Newsletter: Colorado Passes Bill to Ensure Early Access to Counsel | June 12, 2014
E-newsletter from June 12, 2014. Includes: - Colorado Passes Bill to Ensure Early Access to Counsel - D.C. Member Teams with National Partner to Keep District Youth Out of Adult System - Michigan Report Shows High Cost of Kids in Adult Justice System - Arkansas Member's Report Prompts Reform to Youth Detention Data Collection
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Youth Behind Bars: Examining the Impact of Prosecuting and Incarcerating Kids in Michigan’s Criminal Justice System
Tags: Michigan | Youth in the Adult System | Reports | Member Publications
This report, from the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency (an NJJN member) details the negative effects of adult incarceration on youth in Michigan.
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E-Newsletter: Michigan Threatens Ban on Juvenile Life Without Parole | February 11, 2014
E-newsletter for the week of February 11, 2014.
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Michigan Threatens Ban on Mandatory Juvenile Life without Parole
Michelle Weemhoff of the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency discusses the youth sentencing bills introduced last week in Michigan.
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Michigan H.B. 4808, 2013-14
Tags: Michigan | Life Without Parole and Parole Issues | Legislation
Michigan H.B. 4808 regarding mandatory sentencing and life sentences for youth. This version was passed by the House and is the most current version as of February 5, 2014.
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Michigan S.B. 318, 2013-14
Tags: Michigan | Life Without Parole and Parole Issues | Legislation
Michigan S.B. 318 for the 2013-14 legislative session. Regarding mandatory sentencing of youth. This bill was passed by the Senate and is the most current version as of February 5, 2014.
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Michigan S.B. 319, 2013-14
Tags: Michigan | Life Without Parole and Parole Issues | Legislation
Michigan S.B. 319 for the 2013-14 legislative session, regarding mandatory sentencing and life sentences for youth. Version passed by the House and Senate, and up-to-date as of February 5, 2014.
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E-Newsletter: Michigan Judge Rules Youth Sentenced to Life Must Have Chance at Parole | December 12, 2013
E-newsletter for the week of December 12, 2013.
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Michigan Judge Mandates Parole Opportunity for Youth Serving Life Sentences
Federal Judge John Corbett O'Meara issued a strict directive late last month to the state of Michigan to take concrete, significant action toward implementing Miller v. Alabama, the 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision that found mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole to be unconstitutional for juveniles.
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Federal Court Orders Michigan to Eliminate Mandatory Life without Parole Sentences for Youth, Hill v. Snyder, Case No.10-14568 (E.D. Mich., Nov 26, 2013)
Tags: Michigan | Life Without Parole and Parole Issues | Court Decisions and Related Documents
A federal judge ordered the state of Michigan to immediately comply with the Miller v. Alabama U.S. Supreme Court decision, which eliminates mandatory sentences of life without parole for crimes committed by youth under age 18. The order states that the state must give notice of eligibility of parole to all individuals who have served ten years of their sentence, and to create an administrative structure to process and determine parole for these individuals in a “fair, meaningful, and realistic” manner. Additionally, the order states that the parole board must explain its reasoning in each case; sentencing judges may not veto parole decisions; and the state may not deny individuals sentenced to juvenile life without parole access to any educational or training programs that are available to the general prison population. However, the ruling is currently under appeal and the state attorney general has put a stay on any reviews by the parole board. Hill v. Snyder, Case No.10-14568 (E.D. Mich., Nov 26, 2013).
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Expert Report/Declaration of Peter Wagner, J.D.
Tags: Michigan | Sex Offender Registries | Testimony
An expert report filed in a Michigan case regarding "school safety zones," which limit the activities of those on sex offender registries. The analysis concludes that there is no reasonable way for a person who seeks to comply with the law to be able to identify and avoid the protected areas.
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Webinar: When Youth are Not Competent to Stand Trial
NJJN will be hosting a webinar on what to do if a youth is not competent to stand trial. Learn more and register here.
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Michigan Member Organization Helps Pass Indigent Defense Reform Bill, Calls for Further Reform for Youth
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Michigan Establishes Indigent Defense Commission, H.B. 4529
Tags: Michigan | Juvenile Defense and Court Process | Youth in the Adult System | Legislation
The Michigan Legislature created an independent and permanent Michigan Indigent Defense Commission to identify and encourage best practices for defending indigent individuals and to establish, enforce, and oversee statewide public defense standards. In establishing and overseeing the standards, the commission is to emphasize the importance of indigent defense for youth under age 17 who are tried and sentenced in adult criminal court (in Michigan, all youth 17 and older are automatically tried as adults). The legislation notes the importance of lowering caseloads, proper training, continuous representation by the same attorney throughout an individual’s case, and oversight of representation. The law does not apply to youth tried in juvenile court. H.B. 4529/Act No. 93, signed into law and effective July 1, 2013.
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Michigan Legislature Creates Community-Based Juvenile Justice Grants for Rural Counties
Tags: Michigan | Community-Based Alternatives and Supervision | Evidence-Based Practices | Legislation
The Michigan Legislature provided funding within the Department of Human Services to implement the In-Home Community Care Grant, a $1 million grant fund to help rural counties create or enhance existing community-based juvenile programming. In its first year, six rural counties were awarded funding to create evidence-based services, including trauma-informed evaluations and assessments, regional Multi-Systemic Therapy units, and wraparound and intensive probation staff. H.B 4328/Act No. 59, signed into law and effective June 13, 2013.
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E-Newsletter: Michigan Judge Strikes Down Intolerable Miscarriage of Justice
Download the February 8, 2013 issue of our e-newsletter on juvenile justice reform in its entirety (PDF). Includes a victory in Michigan, a great new leader for OJJDP, and more.
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Michigan Judge Strikes Down Intolerable Miscarriage of Justice
In January 2013, a federal judge in Michigan struck down a state law prohibiting parole for individuals sentenced to life for crimes committed as juveniles, in accord with the Supreme Court decision, Miller v. Alabama.
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E-Newsletter: Michigan Legislature Passes Two Key Reforms
Download the January 11, 2013 issue of our e-newsletter on juvenile justice reform in its entirety (PDF). Includes member victories in Michigan, research showing child welfare pushes Black kids into juvenile court, and more.
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New Year, New Legislation: Michigan Legislature Passes Two Key Reforms
As 2012 came to a close, the Michigan Legislature pushed through two pieces of legislation key to advancing much-needed juvenile justice reforms. Michelle Weemhoff, the Senior Policy Associate at Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency, shares.
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Legislature Sets Juvenile Competency Standards for Michigan Courts, H.B. 4555
Tags: Michigan | Juvenile Defense and Court Process | Mental Health and Substance Abuse | Legislation
Michigan passed two laws that set new competency standards for juvenile proceedings. The laws establish a presumption of incompetence for any child under age 10, and a process for attorneys to raise competency issues for youth 10 and older in juvenile court; require that examiners have experience and expertise in child and adolescent forensic evaluations; require use of the Juvenile Adjudicative Competency Interview (JACI) or similarly-approved evaluative instrument; require youth to be placed in the least restrictive environment while awaiting and undergoing evaluations; and create an avenue for competency restoration before prosecution proceeds, or, in some cases, provision of mental health services if competency cannot be restored. S.B. 246/Act No. 541 and H.B. 4555/Act No. 540, signed into law January 2, 2013; effective March 28, 2013.
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Legislature Sets Juvenile Competency Standards for Michigan Courts, S.B. 246
Tags: Michigan | Juvenile Defense and Court Process | Mental Health and Substance Abuse | Legislation
Michigan passed two laws that set new competency standards for juvenile proceedings. The laws establish a presumption of incompetence for any child under age 10, and a process for attorneys to raise competency issues for youth 10 and older in juvenile court; require that examiners have experience and expertise in child and adolescent forensic evaluations; require use of the Juvenile Adjudicative Competency Interview (JACI) or similarly-approved evaluative instrument; require youth to be placed in the least restrictive environment while awaiting and undergoing evaluations; and create an avenue for competency restoration before prosecution proceeds, or, in some cases, provision of mental health services if competency cannot be restored. S.B. 246/Act No. 541 and H.B. 4555/Act No. 540, signed into law January 2, 2013; effective March 28, 2013.
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Michigan Expands Juvenile Record Expungement, H.B. 5600
Tags: Michigan | Legislation
Michigan youth may now petition for expungement of their juvenile records at age 18 or one year after adjudication, whichever is later. Records may be expunged for up to one felony and two misdemeanors, or, if the youth has no felony adjudications, up to three misdemeanors. Any offenses committed together within a 12-hour period are considered one incident. A non-public record will still be maintained by law enforcement. H.B. 5600/Act No. 527, signed into law and effective December 28, 2012.
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IACHR Report on Admissibility: Juvenile Offenders Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Without Parole
Tags: International | Michigan | Life Without Parole and Parole Issues | Youth in the Adult System | Reports
A report on admissibility filed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in which the IACHR agrees to hear the petition filed on behalf of Michigan youth sentenced to life without parole.
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E-Newsletter: New York and California Governors Move to Close Youth Prisons
The governors of New York and California move to close their states' youth prisons; update on the Adam Walsh Act; the Pew Center expands into juvenile justice; and a juvenile justice resource roundup -- all this and more in NJJN's latest e-newsletter.
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Michigan Launches Indigent Defense Advisory Commission, Executive Order 2011-12
Tags: Michigan | Juvenile Defense and Court Process | Administrative/Regulatory Policies
Michigan's governor issued an executive order to establish the Michigan Indigent Defense Advisory Commission. The commission is charged with investigating how to improve legal representation for defendants who cannot afford an attorney, as well as developing recommendations on how to ensure public defense is consistent across the state.
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Michigan Youth Reentry Model: Building a Reentry Framework for Youth, Families and Communities, Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency, September 2011
Tags: Michigan | Aftercare/Reentry | Reports
The Michigan Youth Reentry Initiative provides a multi-dimensional framework designed to stop the cycle of crime among Michigan's youngest offenders and prepare them for successful transitions into adulthood. The model is based on the successful Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative, which serves adults. The three-phase, seven-point youth model describes how stakeholders can collaborate to deliver an evidence-based risk-reduction framework in courts, residential facilities, and communities.
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Michigan Removes Certain Youth from Sex Offender Registries, S.B. 188
Tags: Michigan | Collateral Consequences | Sex Offender Registries | Legislation
Michigan law removes all individuals from sex offender registries who were under the age of 14 at the time of their offenses. Additionally, those individuals who were 14 or 15 years old at the time of the offense will be moved to the private law enforcement registry for the duration of their mandated registration. Previously, youth ages 15 and younger were placed on the law enforcement-only registry, but then added, with limited exceptions, to the public registry when they turned 18, despite the fact that their offenses took place when they were underage. Youth charged with "age-only consensual" acts -- in which there is no more than four years of age difference between the victim and the accused, and which involve a consenting victim -- will no longer have to register. Lastly, existing age-only consensual registrants will have the opportunity to petition for removal from the registry.
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Michigan Removes Certain Youth from Sex Offender Registries, S.B. 189
Tags: Michigan | Collateral Consequences | Sex Offender Registries | Legislation
Michigan law removes all individuals from sex offender registries who were under the age of 14 at the time of their offenses. Additionally, those individuals who were 14 or 15 years old at the time of the offense will be moved to the private law enforcement registry for the duration of their mandated registration. Previously, youth ages 15 and younger were placed on the law enforcement-only registry, but then added, with limited exceptions, to the public registry when they turned 18, despite the fact that their offenses took place when they were underage. Youth charged with “age-only consensual” acts—in which there is no more than four years of age difference between the victim and the accused, and which involve a consenting victim—will no longer have to register. Lastly, existing age-only consensual registrants will have the opportunity to petition for removal from the registry.
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Re-entry Project for Offenders with Special Needs: Annual Report Fiscal Year 2011, Michigan Prisoner ReEntry Initiative
Tags: Michigan | Aftercare/Reentry | Reports
The Michigan Youth Reentry Initiative provides a multi-dimensional framework designed to stop the cycle of crime among Michigan's youngest offenders and prepare them for successful transitions into adulthood. The model is based on the successful Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative, which serves adults. The three-phase, seven-point youth model describes how stakeholders can collaborate to deliver an evidence-based risk-reduction framework in courts, residential facilities, and communities.
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Reclaiming Michigan's Throwaway Kids: Students Trapped in the School-to-Prison Pipeline, ACLU of Michigan
Tags: Michigan | School-to-Prison Pipeline | Reports
Report documenting a trend amongst school districts to enforce severe disciplinary policies and practices that push children permanently out of the classroom without regard for the long-term impact.
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Take a Cue from Illinois on Child Defendants: Michigan Sadly Falls Behind on Representation, Elizabeth Arnovits, Lansing State Journal Editorial
Tags: Michigan | Juvenile Defense and Court Process | Media
Opinion editorial citing a study from the National Legal Aid and Defender Association noting that "juvenile justice representation is considered in many ways an afterthought all across the state of Michigan."
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Get Smarter, Not Tougher, Dealing with Youth Crime, Beth Arnovits, The Detroit Free Press
Tags: Michigan | Youth in the Adult System | Media
Opinion editorial encouraging the Michigan legislature to impose laws that are better equipped to deal with juvenile offenders rather than laws that are harsher on juvenile offenders.
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Assessing Consistency and Fairness in Sentencing: A Comparative Study in Three States, National Center for State Courts
Tags: Michigan | Minnesota | Virginia | Racial and Ethnic Disparities | Reports
Report examining significantly different sentencing guidelines in three states: Virginia, where the guidelines are mandatory; Michigan, which offers some judicial discretion; and Minnesota, which has the most mandatory system of the three. The study concludes that regardless of the amount of judicial discretion, the guidelines result in consistent sentences that generally are not influenced by race and economic status. The study also notes the marked contrast of its findings to the inconsistent and discriminatory sentencing practices that were documented in each state before the implementation of the sentencing guidelines.
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Should Teens Get Life Prison Terms?, Ronald J. Hansen, The Detroit News
Tags: Michigan | Life Without Parole and Parole Issues | Media
Article discussing implications for juvenile offenders sentenced to life without parole in Michigan.
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Life-Without-Parole Youth Terms Scrutinized, David Eggert, The Detroit News
Tags: International | Michigan | International and Human Rights | Life Without Parole and Parole Issues | Media
Short article on the United Nations review of Michigan's use of juvenile life without parole.
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Michigan Proposes Amendments to Juvenile Life Without Parole, Michigan, H.B. 5512
Tags: Michigan | Life Without Parole and Parole Issues | Legislation
Legislation which would amend life without parole sentences for youth sentenced prior to their 17th birthday to allow for the possibility of parole after 10 years. The bill did not pass.
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Second Chances: Juveniles Serving Life Without Parole in Michigan Prisons, ACLU of Michigan
Tags: Michigan | Life Without Parole and Parole Issues | Reports
Report examining juvenile life without parole sentences imposed in Michigan for offenses committed by individuals under eighteen, as they compare to the nation and the world. The report outlines the nature and extent of these sentences, their inequities and their toll on society, and presents recommendations for a rational and humane response to juvenile crime.