RAISE THE AGE: DETENTION OF JUVENILES

House Bill 4744 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Jeffrey R. Noble

House Bill 4969 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Tommy Brann

House Bill 5637 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Fred Durhal III

Committee:  Law and Justice

Complete to 9-24-18

SUMMARY:

Generally speaking, House Bills 4744, 4969, and 5637 would amend various acts to prohibit confining juveniles in adult detention facilities or confining or holding juveniles in the same area or vehicle as adults. A detailed description of each bill follows.

House Bill 4744 would amend the Juvenile Code within the Probate Code. Currently, in certain circumstances, juveniles under the age of 17 may be housed in a jail, prison, or other place of detention used to house adults as long as the juveniles are physically separated (out of sight and sound) from the adult offenders. The bill would revise numerous provisions within the Juvenile Code to prohibit detaining or incarcerating juveniles under the age of 18 with adults.

Specifically, the bill would do all of the following (“court” means the Family Division of circuit court.):

·         Eliminate a provision allowing a child under 17 taken into custody for violating any law or ordinance, or a personal protection order (PPO), to be held, while awaiting the arrival of the child's parent or guardian, in any detention facility if completely isolated so as to prevent verbal, visual, or physical contact with any adult prisoner. Instead, the bill would prohibit a child under 18 taken into custody from being held in a jail or any other detention facility for adults, but allow the child to be held in a detention facility for juveniles.

·         Prohibit a child under the jurisdiction of the court for certain felony offenses from being detained in a cell or other secure facility designed to incarcerate adults. A child not less than 18 years of age (raised from not less than 17) could be so detained if under a supplemental petition for violating a PPO.

·         Prohibit confining a juvenile under the age of 18 (raised from 17), who had been taken into custody or detained, in any police station, prison, jail, lock-up, or reformatory, or transporting the juvenile with, or compelling or permitting the juvenile to associate or mingle with, criminal or dissolute persons.

·         Eliminate a provision allowing a juvenile 15 years of age or older taken into custody to be detained in a jail or place of detention for adults (but separate from adults) if he or she could not otherwise be safely detained or was deemed a menace to other juveniles.

·         Eliminate a provision that allows a juvenile who is over 17 years of age, but who is within the court’s jurisdiction, to be boarded in the county jail if in a room or ward separate and apart from adult criminals.

·         Eliminate a provision allowing the court to commit a child not less than 17 years of age to a county jail within the adult population for violating a PPO.

·         Specify that a juvenile under the court’s jurisdiction who is tried and convicted as an adult could not, as part of the juvenile disposition or sentence imposed, be confined in a jail or prison until he or she is 18 years of age.

·         Include the collection of a juvenile’s biometric data in a provision that requires the court, before entering an order of disposition for a juvenile offense or a judgment of sentence for a conviction, to determine that the juvenile’s fingerprints had been collected and forwarded as required by law.

·         Eliminate a provision allowing a court to incarcerate a juvenile in a county jail for up to 30 days (in a room or ward out of sight and sound from adult prisoners if under 17 years of age) for certain violations of probation imposed under an order of disposition that delays imposition of sentencing.

·         Delete two obsolete provisions pertaining to foster care home services.

In addition, if an order of disposition places a juvenile under state, county juvenile agency, or court supervision, the Code currently requires the order to contain a provision for reimbursement by the juvenile, parent, or guardian to the court for the cost of care of service. If the juvenile is receiving an adoption support subsidy, the amount of the reimbursement cannot exceed the amount of the support subsidy. The bill would amend this provision to include redetermined adoption assistance provided under Public Act 308 of 2014.

The bill is tie-barred to House Bills 4969 and 5637, which means that it cannot take effect unless both of the other bills are also enacted.

MCL 712A.14 et al.

House Bill 4969 would amend Section 27a of Chapter IV of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Currently, with some exceptions, Section 27a prohibits a juvenile from being confined in a police station, prison, jail, lock-up, or reformatory, or being transported with, or compelled or permitted to associate or mingle with, criminal persons (e.g., adults) while awaiting trial. The bill would eliminate the exceptions, as follows:

·         The bill would eliminate a provision allowing a juvenile whose habits or conduct are considered to be a menace to other children, or who may not otherwise be safely detained, to be placed in a jail or other place of detention for adults, but in a room or ward out of sight and sound from adults.

·         The bill would eliminate a provision allowing a juvenile or an individual less than 17 years of age who is under the jurisdiction of the circuit court (adult criminal court) or the Family Division of circuit court (but being tried as an adult) for committing a felony to be confined in the county jail pending trial, if he or she is held physically separate from adult prisoners and the county sheriff has given prior approval.

Currently, upon a motion by a juvenile or individual less than 17 years of age who is subject to confinement in a county jail as described above for committing a felony, a court may order the juvenile or individual to be confined as otherwise allowed by law. The bill would apply this provision to a juvenile or individual less than 18 years of age who is subject to confinement.

MCL 764.27a

House Bill 5637 would amend the Michigan Penal Code to prohibit a child under 18 years of age (raised from under 16), while under arrest, confinement, or conviction for a crime, from being:

·         Placed in an apartment or cell of a prison or place of confinement with adults who are under arrest, confinement, or conviction of a crime.

·         Transported in any vehicle used to transport inmates with adults charged with or convicted of a crime.

A provision prohibiting the child from being permitted to remain in any courtroom during the trial of adults would be eliminated.

Further, the bill would delete an obsolete provision pertaining to a youth correctional facility that has since closed.

            MCL 750.139

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

House Bills 4744, 4969, and 5637 are reintroductions of House Bills 4957, 498, and 4959 of the 2015-2016 legislative session. They are part of a larger bill package known as the “Raise the Age” legislation, which is intended to treat individuals who are 17 years of age as juveniles rather than automatically treating them as adults.

BRIEF DISCUSSION:

The juvenile court process is quite different from the process in place for adults. Currently defined as a person less than 17 years of age, a juvenile who commits a criminal offense is typically adjudicated in the Family Division of Circuit Court. If the juvenile committed a felony, depending on the nature or seriousness of the offense, the juvenile may receive a typical juvenile disposition in Family Division (referred to as a delinquency proceeding), receive an adult sentence in Family Division, or be waived to adult criminal court and tried and sentenced as an adult.

Delinquency proceeding:  An adjudication in the Family Division of Circuit Court, also referred to as a delinquency proceeding, is not considered to be criminal, and the philosophy of the court is rehabilitation and treatment for the delinquent youth rather than punishment. The judge has wide discretion and can dismiss the petition against the juvenile, refer the juvenile for counseling, place the juvenile on probation (diversion), or place the case on the court’s formal calendar or docket and allow charges to go forward. If the juvenile admits responsibility or is found responsible for (as opposed to “guilty of”) committing the offense, the terms of disposition (similar to “sentencing” for adults) may include, among other things, probation, counseling, participation in programs such as drug or alcohol treatment, placement in a juvenile boot camp, restitution to victims, community service, placement in foster care, and/or payment of a crime victim rights assessment fee and reimbursement of court appointed attorney fees and other court services expenses.

A juvenile being adjudicated in a delinquency proceeding is often made a temporary ward of the county and supervised by the court’s probation department. A juvenile who needs more intensive services may be made a ward of the state and supervised by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; known as an “Act 150” case, the juvenile may be placed in a residential treatment program. Upon completion of the term of residential care, the juvenile is often placed on “aftercare,” where his or her progress and behavior can be monitored by the juvenile corrections department for a period of time, similarly to the role parole plays for an adult offender.

Juvenile charged as adult:  A juvenile who is charged with a felony may be treated and sentenced as an adult. This happens in three ways:

Traditional waiver:  A traditional waiver applies to a juvenile 14 to 16 years of age who is charged with any felony. The prosecuting attorney may petition the Family Division to ask that the court waive its delinquency jurisdiction and allow the child to be tried as an adult in a court of general criminal jurisdiction (adult criminal court). The Family Division retains discretion to waive the case to adult court or to proceed as a delinquency proceeding. If waived to adult court and convicted, the juvenile must be sentenced as an adult.

Designated proceedings:  Some more serious offenses are known as “specified juvenile violations” and include such crimes as arson, rape, assault with attempt to commit murder, and armed robbery. If a juvenile is charged with a specified juvenile violation, the prosecutor has the authority to designate the case to be tried in the Family Division but in the same manner as for an adult (this includes sentencing the juvenile as an adult).

The prosecutor can also ask the Family Division to designate a case that does not involve a specified juvenile violation for trial in the Family Division; this requires the juvenile to be tried in the same manner as an adult, and a guilty plea or verdict results in a criminal conviction. However, the court retains discretion to issue a typical juvenile disposition order, impose any sentence that could be imposed on an adult if convicted of the same offense, or delay sentencing and place the juvenile on probation.

Automatic waiver:  If a juvenile who is 14 to 16 years old commits a specified juvenile violation, the prosecutor has the discretion to initiate automatic waiver proceedings to waive the juvenile to adult criminal court by filing a complaint and warrant in District Court, rather than petitioning the Family Division. A preliminary hearing must be held to determine probable cause that the juvenile committed the offense or offenses; if so, the case is bound over to adult criminal court. If the juvenile is convicted of one or more very serious specified juvenile violations, the juvenile must be sentenced in the same manner as an adult. If the juvenile is convicted of an offense that does not require an adult sentence, the court must hold a juvenile sentencing hearing to determine whether to impose an adult sentence or to place the juvenile on probation and make the juvenile an Act 150 ward of the state.

(Information derived from the Juvenile Justice Benchbook, 3rd Edition, Michigan Judicial Institute, and from information on juvenile delinquency available on the Clare County Prosecuting Attorney Office website.)

FISCAL IMPACT:

Overall, the “Raise the Age” legislative package would increase both state and local costs. A report commissioned by the State of Michigan Legislative Council Criminal Justice Policy Commission was released on March 14, 2018 (the “Report”).^[1] The Report presents an overall range in net cost increases from $27 million to $61 million annually. The House Fiscal Agency forecasts that these net costs would increase over a 3- to 5-year period and would plateau thereafter, as the applicable population phases in due to the Probate Code’s provision that the circuit court family division maintains jurisdiction over juveniles for 2 years beyond the maximum age of when the offense occurred.

There are three primary factors that inhibit a precise fiscal impact estimate of the package:

·         State statute still would allow for judicial discretion to move juvenile cases under the age of 18 to adult circuit and district courts. If a moderate percentage of these cases are moved, then the fiscal impact would lessen.

·         State statute still would allow for prosecuting attorneys to request that a juvenile case be tried in the same manner as an adult in a court of general criminal jurisdiction. Again, if a moderate percentage of these cases are moved, then the fiscal impact would lessen.

·         State statute allows for a variety of placement discretion for juveniles. Juveniles can be placed in secure child caring institutions, which have annual costs of $75,000 to $120,000, or can be referred to less expensive in-home services.

The Report notes a wide range cost estimates related to separating 16- and 17-year-old juveniles from adults. Those costs can range from re-opening or contracting for unused child caring institution beds to building new child caring institutions. These different local-level decision options make it difficult to determine a precise fiscal estimate.

House Bill 4744

HB 4744 would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the Department of Corrections. The bill would result in a general fund/general purpose savings for the department, over time, if offenders aged 17 and under were no longer sentenced, under any circumstances, to adult prison facilities. This would depend solely on judicial placement decisions. Currently, the department houses 42 prisoners aged 17 and under. If the department did not house any offenders until they reached the age of 18, the department could close half of one housing unit that houses this population, saving approximately $1.8 million GF/GP. If the department did not house any offenders who committed their offenses prior to the age of 18 until they reached the age of 21, the department could close about 200 beds over the next 5 years, saving approximately $3.0 million GF/GP.

HB 4744 would result in a cost increase to local courts because there would be more juveniles under court supervision. It is difficult to project the actual impact on each local unit due to variables such as prosecutorial practices, judicial discretion, and case types. When juveniles are placed at a juvenile detention or residential facility, in most cases, the expenses for these placements and other juvenile justice services will be paid by the state and the county in equal amounts though the Child Care Fund (50/50 state-local cost share).

House Bill 4969

HB 4969 would have no fiscal impact on the state Department of Corrections, but would impact local units of government, in particular, the cities of Detroit and Flint. Currently, the Department of Corrections is paid by the City of Detroit to operate the Detroit Detention Center, which serves as the city’s single lock-up center, housing 200 offenders. Also, the department funds and operates the lock-up for the City of Flint. Under the bill, offenders less than 18 years of age who are picked up and detained pending arraignment could no longer be confined at these and other locally operated detention centers/lock-ups.

Though local units would save on costs as a result of fewer lock-ups, they would incur costs for their responsibility to detain these individuals in another way that meets the requirements of the bill. When juveniles are placed at a juvenile detention or residential facility, in most cases, the expenses for these placements and other juvenile justice services will be paid by the state and the county in equal amounts through the Child Care Fund (50/50 state-local cost share). However, any local construction or other capital improvement costs needed to ensure 16- and 17-year-olds are placed with adults are not eligible for state Child Care Fund reimbursement.

House Bill 5637

HB 5637 would have no fiscal impact on the state, but would affect local units of government. Under the bill, 16- and 17-year-olds would be prohibited from being placed with adults under arrest, confinement, or conviction. Currently, the law prohibits youth under the age of 16 from being placed with adults who are under arrest, confinement, or conviction; from remaining in a courtroom during the trial of adults; and from being transported in a vehicle with adults who are charged or convicted of crimes. Provisions of the bill, as written, reflect current policies of the Department of Corrections with regard to 16- and 17-year-olds.

Local units would incur costs for complying with provisions of the bill related to transporting 16- and 17-year-olds. Costs would depend on the extent to which current transportation and housing systems needed to be changed. When juveniles are placed at a juvenile detention or residential facility, in most cases, the expenses for these placements and other juvenile justice services will be paid by the state and the county in equal amounts through the Child Care Fund (50/50 state-local cost share).

                                                                                         Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                Fiscal Analysts:   Robin Risko

                                                                                                                           Viola Bay Wild

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

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