Center for Political Studies
Institute for Social Research
University of Michigan
P.O. Box 1248
Ann Arbor, MI
48106-1248

Voice: (734) 763-1348
Fax: (734) 764-3341

Title
Prosecuting and Treating Juveniles as Adults: A Policy Research Proposal

PI
Rosemary Sarri

Direct Source
WK Kellogg Foundation

Abstract
The transfer of juveniles to adult criminal courts and their subsequent incarceration in adult prisons increased significantly in the l990s and early 21st Century despite the dramatic decline in juvenile crime since the mid-1990s. The ineffectiveness of their incarceration, its long term costs, and new developments from brain research have lead to a reconsideration of the rigid legislation that was passed in many states in the l980s and l990s. During the past year we have provided information about the patterns and outcomes of this processing to a variety of state groups, and now the debate is underway about assessing the impact of the legislation.

A statewide Waiver Group was appointed by the Director of the Department of Human Services to research and identify the issues and impacts of the adult waiver policy in Michigan. This group is composed of legislators, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, public and private agency administrators from state and local agencies, community advocates and representatives of county government. We have been asked by this group to provide further information to that which we provided earlier, including the following:

1. Detail information about the impact of the 1988 and 1996 legislations on youth who were incarcerated in the Department of Corrections vs. those who were committed to the Juvenile Justice Services of the Department of Human Services.
2. Review statutes of the various states with respect to the competency assessment of juveniles and propose model legislation.
3. Determine the factors related to successful re-entry of persons from the Departments of Corrections and Human Services by interviewing them at release and subsequently for six months.
4. Participate actively in the deliberations of the Waiver Group.
5. Because the state is interested in establishing regional assessment centers for juveniles committed to the Department of Human Services in order to place offending youth more effectively, we will analyse the assessment information collected in Wayne County on 3000 youth and present recommendations to the state.

This appears to be an opportune time for serious study and discussion of a major policy issue in Michigan, and its outcomes are likely to have very long term effects. There is considerable evidence that incarceration has negative effects on youth, including their future labor force participation, thereby creating further dependency for society. Most of the juveniles in adult prisons will be released in their mid-twenties, but they will be ill-equipped to meet the requirements for successful adulthood and parenthood. Michigan once was a leading state in the provisions of community-based and residential services through its juvenile justice system. That system could be reestablished with more positive outcomes. Michigan is an "aging" state and needs to cultivate all its youth for their maximum capability as adult.