Grace’s mother, Charisse, called the news of the task force “encouraging” and said she hopes it examines the state’s probation policies, racial disparities and the quality of court-appointed attorneys, among other issues.
“This should mean that youth currently in the system and all future children who are impacted by the justice system won’t fall under the same system of injustice,” she said. She also said the panel should include parents and individuals who “look like and understand today’s youth.”
Whitmer appointed a similar task force focused on the adult criminal justice system soon after she took office in January 2019. That group, which analyzed a decade of jail and court data, found that about half of all jail admissions resulted from probation or parole violations. The findings led to new laws this year that limit when jail can be used for adult probation violations and eliminate mandatory minimum sentences in certain cases.
The Michigan Supreme Court has also been reviewing other juvenile court procedures. Concerned that Grace had been shackled during a hearing, the court proposed a rule last year that would ban the use of restraints on juveniles during court proceedings unless there is a safety risk. The court held a public hearing on the proposal in March but has not decided whether to adopt it.
The court also announced that its administrative arm would review the procedures in Grace’s case, but nearly a year later has not issued a public report of its findings.
Jason Smith, executive director of the Michigan Center for Youth Justice, said that for years officials and advocates have been discussing appointing a group to address “long-standing issues” in the juvenile justice system. But he said that Grace’s case, as well as the death of 16-year-old Cornelius Fredericks after he was restrained in a residential facility, “placed a national spotlight on Michigan that served as motivation for state leaders to finally act.”
Smith said the task force should focus on ways to reduce racial, ethnic and geographic disparities among young people involved in the justice system.
“I hope that the outcome of the task force’s work ensures that no Michigan child youth experiences harm due to their justice system involvement in the future,” Smith said.
https://www.propublica.org/article/after-graces-story-michigan-will-study-its-juvenile-justice-system
Michigan’s Broken Legal System: http://www.judicialcriminal.com
Macomb County Circuit Court, Family Court entered a non-consented “settlement agreement” and illegally subjected me to parental alienation, unjust/inappropriate child support enforcement, (4) bench warrants (no bond), the loss of my home and all contents(ex-parte) and retirement accounts by an attorney malpractice trial, professional licenses suspension, and life savings for parental rights.
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