FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Ann Mullen, 313-400-8562, amullen@aclumich.org
LANSING, Mich. – A broad group of advocates shared an open letter with the Michigan Senate today, calling on it to act with urgency and pass legislation that mandates legal representation for children entangled in the criminal legal system. The letter focuses on House Bill 4630, which would require the state to fund defense, as well as provide training for legal defenders, and oversight to ensure quality representation.
The result of a report issued by the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform in 2022, HB 4630 is part of a 20-bill package the State House approved last year with a bipartisan vote of 85 to 25.
Advocates urge the Senate to prioritize HB 4630 and pass it during this lame duck session. Failing to do so means Michigan will continue to fall short of its constitutional obligation to provide much-needed legal representation to children mired in the criminal legal system. HB 4630 will authorize the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) to include quality legal defense for youth and other services as it currently does for adults.
HB 4630 is foundational to protecting the constitutional rights of all children caught up in the juvenile justice system, and a key component of the Task Force recommendations. The Senate must ensure the passage of this critical bill before lame duck ends.
Juvenile justice advocates include: State Bar of Michigan, ACLU of Michigan, State Appellate Defender Office, The Gault Center, Michigan Center for Youth Justice, Safe and Just Michigan, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, Michigan Catholic Conference, Michigan League for Public Policy, Detroit Justice Center, Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration, MOSES, and the Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals.