Michigan recently implemented a new juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors, sheriffs, judges, and child advocates.
The reforms expand diversion eligibility, allocate state funds for programs, limit diversion periods to three months, and eliminate fines and fees.
Richard Mendel, who authored The Sentencing Project’s recent report “America’s Growing Movement to Divert Youth Out of the Justice System,” says overall diversion programs save money.
“Diversion tends to be cheaper,” Mendel said. “It’s not a net cost, it’s a net savings, even in the short term, and it’s especially a net savings financially in the long term because these young people are much less likely to come back.”
The major reform involved changing the childcare fund reimbursement model to incentivize local jurisdictions to invest more in community based services. Smith adds that you can serve ten kids with high quality services in the community for the price of one leaving residential placement.
