Criminal Justice (Juvenile Justice)

in committee · Michigan · House Sep 1, 2026

HB 6296: Children: services; juvenile justice and child welfare training institute and youth and family justice bureau; establish. Amends secs. 13a, 18f, 18q, 19 & 19a, ch. XIIA of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 712A.13a et seq.) & adds secs. 16b, 18u & 18v to ch. XIIA.

Michigan House Bill 6296 establishes a new Youth and Family Justice Bureau within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to oversee juvenile justice standards, collect data, and monitor detention facilities. The bill also creates a Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Training Institute, developed in collaboration with state courts and a public university, to provide standardized training and maintain centralized records for staff working in the juvenile system. Additionally, the legislation amends existing child welfare laws to mandate more frequent court review hearings, require regular parenting time for removed children, and set specific timelines for permanency planning decisions regarding foster care placements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes oversight bureau and training institute for juvenile justice to improve standards, data collection, and staff preparation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

Track

in committee · Michigan · House Jan 15, 2026

HB 5448: Corrections: parole; impact statements by certain witnesses; allow. Amends sec. 35 of 1953 PA 232 (MCL 791.235) & adds sec. 35a.

HB 5448 amends Michigan's parole procedures to require the parole board to consider impact statements from certain witnesses, including crime victims, when reviewing parole applications. It directly affects prisoners seeking parole, parole board members, and crime victims who wish to share how a crime impacted them. Key mechanisms include adding a new provision (Section 35a) for submitting impact statements, clarifying that parole boards cannot deny parole without an interview in most cases (except for low-probability cases), and prohibiting consideration of expunged juvenile records or inaccurate information. The bill also mandates a 90-day parole eligibility report detailing a prisoner's conduct, work, education, and risk assessment, while explicitly banning the parole board from basing denials solely on marital history or unconvicted arrests.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires parole boards to consider victim impact statements, enhancing victim voice and transparency in parole decisions per MCL 791.23595% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

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in committee · Michigan · House Dec 17, 2025

HB 5372: Tobacco: other; minors that purchase, possess, or use tobacco products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products; sunset criminal penalties and civil sanctions for. Amends sec. 2 of 1915 PA 31 (MCL 722.642). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5370'25, HB 5371'25, HB 5368'25, HB 5369'25

HB 5372 changes penalties for minors who purchase, possess, or use tobacco, vapor, or alternative nicotine products. It replaces criminal misdemeanor penalties for first and second violations with civil penalties (fines up to $50 and community service up to 32 hours), while third or subsequent violations remain misdemeanors. The bill also adds exemptions for minors in approved undercover operations or compliance checks. It requires four related bills to pass before taking effect.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill replaces criminal penalties with civil penalties for minor tobacco offenses (first/second violations), reducing criminalization of minors and aligning with criminal justice reform principles by avoiding misdemeanor records.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5011: Juveniles: criminal procedure; expunction of crimes resulting from being a victim of human trafficking; expand. Amends sec. 18e, ch. XIIA of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 712A.18e).

HB 5011 would allow juveniles who were victims of human trafficking to have related criminal records sealed. It amends Michigan’s existing expungement law (MCL 712A.18e) to specifically include offenses committed while a juvenile was a trafficking victim, removing a barrier that previously prevented sealing such records. The bill applies to juveniles with up to one felony-level offense or three misdemeanor-level offenses directly tied to trafficking, as defined under current law. This change would enable victims to clear records that might otherwise hinder education, employment, or housing opportunities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes barrier to sealing trafficking victim juveniles' records, aiding rehabilitation and reducing recidivism risk per reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Michigan · House Sep 9, 2025

HB 4844: Children: guardians; jurisdiction involving minors; revise. Amends sec. 2, ch. XIIA of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 712A.2).

HB 4844 amends Michigan's Probate Code to clarify when juvenile courts have exclusive authority over minors under 18. It specifies situations where courts can handle cases involving minors who: (1) violate certain criminal laws (like weapons offenses or specific misdemeanors), (2) repeatedly miss school after counseling attempts, (3) face neglect or unsafe home environments, or (4) are homeless or run away. The bill defines key terms like "learning program" and "neglect" to align with existing state codes. This revision directly affects juvenile courts, prosecutors, and families navigating custody or welfare cases involving minors.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRedirects minor criminal cases (weapons offenses, misdemeanors) to juvenile courts for rehabilitation, aligning with criminal justice reform goals by avoiding adult system entanglement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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passed · Michigan · House Jun 16, 2026

HB 4070: Courts: other; Michigan indigent defense commission act; expand duties to include indigent defense of youth. Amends title & secs. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21 & 23 of 2013 PA 93 (MCL 780.983 et seq.) & adds sec. 14.

HB 4070 expands Michigan's Indigent Defense Commission's responsibilities to include providing legal representation for young people (under 18) in juvenile court cases who qualify as indigent. The bill amends existing law to require the Commission to establish minimum standards ensuring effective legal counsel for both adults and youth in criminal and juvenile proceedings, starting from their initial court appearance. It specifically adds youth defense services to the Commission's duties, defining "indigent youth" as those under 18 facing delinquency charges who cannot afford legal help. This change directly affects young people in juvenile court systems who meet income-based eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands indigent defense to include youth in juvenile court with minimum standards for effective counsel, ensuring legal representation for vulnerable defendants and advancing fair criminal justice system reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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passed · Michigan · Senate Apr 22, 2026

SB 463: Tobacco: other; minors that purchase, possess, or use tobacco products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products; sunset criminal penalties and civil sanctions for. Amends sec. 2 of 1915 PA 31 (MCL 722.642).

SB 463 removes criminal penalties and civil fines for minors (under 18) who purchase, possess, or use tobacco products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products. The bill eliminates existing legal consequences for these minor offenses, shifting focus away from punishment. It directly affects underage individuals by ending enforcement of penalties under current law (MCL 722.642). The key provision is a "sunset" of these penalties, meaning they would no longer apply once the bill takes effect.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves criminal penalties for minors' tobacco use, reducing unnecessary criminalization and aligning with criminal justice reform principles by shifting focus from punishment to prevention.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Juvenile Justice

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passed · Michigan · Senate Mar 5, 2025

SB 24: Juveniles: juvenile justice services; certain information sharing for research purposes in juvenile justice cases; allow. Amends sec. 9 of 1988 PA 13 (MCL 722.829).

SB 24 amends Michigan's Juvenile Diversion Act to allow researchers to access certain juvenile justice records for research purposes, while strictly protecting minors' privacy. It requires researchers to obtain a data use agreement with the state court administrative office, which must include safeguards against public disclosure of personally identifiable information like names, addresses, and Social Security numbers. The bill prohibits using these records for any purpose other than research, with violations punishable by fines or up to 180 days in jail. This directly affects researchers, courts, and the state court administrative office, ensuring research access does not compromise minor confidentiality or interfere with diversion decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables research on juvenile justice records with privacy safeguards, supporting evidence-based reforms in criminal justice systems and rehabilitation programs.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates strict data privacy safeguards for juvenile justice research records, explicitly protecting personally identifiable information per data privacy policy indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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signed · Michigan · Senate Jul 29, 2026

SB 81: Courts: other; Michigan indigent defense commission act; expand duties to include indigent defense of youth. Amends title & secs. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21 & 23 of 2013 PA 93 (MCL 780.983 et seq.) & adds sec. 14.

SB 81 expands Michigan's Indigent Defense Commission's duties to include providing effective legal representation for indigent youth (those under 18 facing juvenile court cases). The bill amends the existing law to require the Commission to establish minimum standards for youth defense services, ensuring they meet constitutional requirements for "effective assistance of counsel." It specifically defines "youth" and clarifies that indigent criminal defense services for youth must begin at their initial court appearance. This change directly affects juvenile defendants who cannot afford a lawyer, ensuring they receive legally required representation under the same standards applied to adults.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands indigent defense for youth to meet constitutional 'effective assistance of counsel' standards, strengthening defendant rights in juvenile justice.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

signed · Michigan · House Jul 29, 2026

HB 4396: Juveniles: juvenile justice services; certain information sharing for research purposes in juvenile justice cases; allow. Amends sec. 9 of 1988 PA 13 (MCL 722.829).

HB 4396 amends Michigan's Juvenile Diversion Act to permit researchers to access certain juvenile justice records for research purposes under strict safeguards. It requires researchers to submit requests to the state court administrative office, obtain approval, and sign a data use agreement that protects personally identifiable information from public disclosure. The agreement must prevent misuse and exempt the data from public disclosure under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. This change directly affects researchers studying juvenile justice outcomes, not the minors involved in cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables research access to juvenile justice records under strict safeguards, facilitating evidence-based reforms to improve juvenile justice systems and protect privacy.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates strict data privacy safeguards for juvenile justice research, protecting PII and exempting data from public disclosure under FOIA, directly advancing data privacy protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice