The Table: Conversations on Youth Justice
By Husain Haidri
Intro and Outro music is Wasted Education by Blue Topaz.
The Table: Conversations on Youth JusticeApr 05, 2023
5. Diverting Youth from the Juvenile Justice System
On this month’s episode of “The Table: Conversations on Youth Justice,” Husain talks to Josh Rovner from the Sentencing Project about diverting youth from the juvenile justice system. They talk about the merits of diversion practices, and Husain discusses MCYJ’s efforts to promote diversion across the state. For more information:
Diversion: A Hidden Key to Combating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Juvenile Justice
Opinion | Michigan needs a statewide approach to reform juvenile justice (Bridge)
Reach out to Husain: hhaidri@miyouthjustice.org
4. The Reality of Legislative Advocacy (with MCYJ Policy Director Jen Peacock!)
On this month's episode of "The Table: Conversations on Youth Justice,” Husain Haidri interviews MCYJ Policy Director Jennifer Peacock. In their conversation, Jen talks about her personal background and how she ended up at MCYJ. Husain asks about what legislative advocacy looks like, and Jen shares some interesting anecdotes.
Additional Information:
3. Juvenile Justice at the Local Level
This month, Husain talks to Thom Lattig about youth justice at the local level. After a deep-dive on the Child Care Fund, they talk about how proposed shifts to the funding model may transform the system for the better.
2. Juvenile Public Defense in Michigan
Husain Haidri discusses the origins of juvenile public defense, describes what a public defender is and does, addresses some of the objections to the public defender system, and offers some solutions to serious problems in the system. At the end of the episode, there's also an update on juvenile life without parole in Michigan.
See also:
- Case: In Re Gault
- Paper: The Impact of National Standards on Juvenile Defense Practice
- Paper: OJJDP on Restorative Justice
- Paper: Rethinking the Sanctioning Function in Juvenile Court: Retributive or Restorative Responses to Youth Crime
- National Juvenile Defender Standards
- SADO December Minutes
- Article: Police Routinely Read Juveniles their Miranda Rights, But Do Kids Really Understand Them?
- Video: Juvenile Justice Task Force Meeting (4/2022)
- Article: SADO’s Summary on Michigan’s Juvenile Life without Parole Cases
1. 2023 Legislative Landscape & the Role of Fear in Policy-Making
To start season 2, Husain lays out the legislative landscape for youth justice policies in 2023 and talks about the role and effect of fear in policy-making.
Contact me: Husain Haidri, hhaidri@miyouthjustice.org
External References
- https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/247350.pdf
- https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2022/08/25/wayne-county-juvenile-detention-facility-jail-overcrowding-understaffed/65418803007/
- https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2022/09/23/jdf-wayne-county-juvenile-jail-complaints/69510344007/
- https://www.wxyz.com/news/local-news/investigations/fighting-understaffing-wayne-county-moves-juveniles-to-vacant-jail
- https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/scores-michigan-schools-close-amid-threats-following-oxford-shootings
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/12/09/oxford-shooting-copycat-threats-students-arrested/6445301001/
- https://www.abc12.com/news/10-year-old-saginaw-4th-grader-charged-with-false-threat-of-terrorism/article_714ccaaa-bb6e-11ec-99c4-dfe668b3cb33.html
- Wasted Education - Blue Topaz
8. Task Force Recommendations with Justice Elizabeth Clement (Season Finale!)
For the season finale, Husain breaks down the long-awaited recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on Juvenile Justice. He talks about the Task Force’s approach, what they ultimately recommended, and how these recommendations will be implemented. At the end of the show, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Clement joins the show to discuss which recommendations are most important to her, the role of the judiciary more broadly, and what she hopes advocates will pick up on in the future.
Michigan Supreme Court (YouTube)
Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice
National Juvenile Defender Center report on Michigan
Inquiries: hhaidri@miyouthjustice.org
Music is Wasted Education by Blue Topaz.
Special Announcement!
Tune in for a special announcement!
7. Raise the Floor
This month, Husain and Gabi discuss raising Michigan's minimum age of juvenile jurisdiction, where Michigan stands domestically and internationally, and the adultification of black youth.
Intro and outro music is Wasted Education by Blue Topaz.
Sources:
- Addressing Child Mental Health by Creating a National Minimum Age for Juvenile Justice Jurisdiction
- Assault charge dropped against 10-year-old boy who injured classmate in dodgeball-like game
- Assault charges dismissed against 10-year-old for hitting student in school game
- Michigan Legislature - Section 330.2062
- Michigan – NJDC
- Minimum Age for Delinquency Adjudication—Multi-Jurisdiction Survey – NJDC
- More than 30,000 children under age 10 have been arrested in the US since 2013: FBI - ABC News
- NJJN Policy Platform: Raise the Minimum Age for Trying Children in Juvenile Court
- Racial Disparities in Sentencing
- Raising the Minimum Age for Prosecuting Children
- Statewide Arrests by Crime Type, Age, Race, and Gender Report
- The Essence of Innocence: Consequences of Dehumanizing Black Children
6. Raise the Age
This month, Husain and Gabi talk about how Michigan raised their age of juvenile jurisdiction from 17 to 18 years old, what that means for kids, and how the courts adapted to it. Raise the Age was a major win for Michigan and MCYJ is proud to have helped advocate for this change!
Intro and Outro music is Wasted Education by Blue Topaz.
For more information on Raise the Age, click below:
Raise the Age: Protecting Kids and Enhancing Public Safety in Michigan
5. Juvenile Life Without Parole: Where are we now?
In this month's episode, we continue the conversation about juvenile life without parole. With two very special guests, this episode is a first for us! Dan Korobkin of the ACLU-MI and Senator Jeff Irwin join us to talk about JLWOP in Michigan. Dan walks us through the case of Hill v. Snyder, which challenged JLWOP in Michigan; then, Sen. Irwin talks to us about a set of bills he and his colleagues introduced to eliminate the use of JLWOP sentences in Michigan.
Intro and Outro music is Wasted Education by Blue Topaz.
ACLU Michigan - Juvenile Life Without Parole
Senators Introduce Legislation to End Juvenile Life Without Parole
4. Supreme Court Cases that made Juvenile Life Without Parole
In this month's episode, Gabi and Husain discuss juvenile life without parole, or JLWOP. JLWOP is a sentence of life imprisonment imposed on youth, essentially deeming them unfit to ever return to society. This simply isn't true, and this episode highlights why. Listen to hear how childhood upbringing, societal impacts, and brain development all play into criminal activity, how the United States Supreme Court worked their way through the cases of six individuals, deciding at nearly every turn that JLWOP constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, and how it can still be used today.
Intro and Outro music is Wasted Education by Blue Topaz.
Helpline Numbers:
National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 1-800-622-4357
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255
For more information on the cases discussed today, click below:
Roper v. Simmons :: 543 US 551 (2005)
The Abused Childhood Of Christopher Simmons English Literature Essay.
Too Immature for the Death Penalty? - The New York Times
Graham v. Florida :: 560 US 48 (2010)
Miller v. Alabama :: 567 US 460 (2012)
Montgomery v. Louisiana | Oyez
Montgomery v. Louisiana :: 577 US ___ (2016)
Jones v. Mississippi :: 593 US ___ (2021)
Book link: Sentencing Juveniles to Life in Prison, Justice Denied
3. COVID-19 Impact on Youth Justice
This week on The Table we're going to be talking about the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on youth in the justice system. Since the onset of the pandemic, the Michigan Center for Youth Justice has put out two reports (linked below) detailing the changes in the youth justice system due to COVID-19. This episode covers the initial changes made as a result of the pandemic, as well as what those changes look like after some time. We discuss the positive changes made and pose some questions for thought regarding public safety and the use of incarceration for youth.
To learn more about MCYJ and our work, visit miyouthjustice.org. To donate to support our work, go to miyouthjustice.org/donate.
Intro and Outro music is Wasted Education by Blue Topaz.
Risk/Needs Assessment 101: Science Reveals New Tools to Manage Offenders
Michigan Trial Courts Virtual Courtroom Standards and Guidelines
COVID-19 in the Michigan Youth Justice System: An Early Impact Analysis
COVID-19 In The Michigan Youth Justice System: Crisis, Response, and Opportunity
2. Debt-Free Justice
Youth who are involved in the justice system encounter many consequences, such as probation or out-of-home placement. One aspect of juvenile court involvement that can last well beyond childhood is the financial burden of juvenile court debt. Listen today to learn more about debt-free justice and how you can help!
Intro and Outro music is Wasted Education by Blue Topaz.
Minors Facing Major Debt: The Immense Burden of Court Fees on Macomb County Youth and Families
Publications: Report on the Economic Well-Being of US Households (SHED)
The High Cost of "Justice": A Snapshot of Juvenile Court Fines and Fees in Michigan
2015–16 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study
1. Intro to Juvenile Justice
The juvenile or youth justice system can seem very convoluted and confusing, especially to those with little experience with it. In this episode, I'm going to cover the basics of juvenile justice and lay the groundwork for the podcast moving forward.
Intro and Outro music is Wasted Education by Blue Topaz.
Trailer: The Table
Hello and welcome to The Table: Conversations on Youth Justice, a podcast that talks about youth justice in Michigan, and occasionally, nationwide. This podcast is sponsored by the Michigan Center for Youth Justice; a nonprofit organization fighting for a fair and effective justice system for kids. New episodes of The Table will be released on the first of the month. Each episode may be a bit different than the last, as we discuss current issues, reports, and maybe even host a guest here and there. The Table can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe. If you'd like to donate to support our work, please go to miyouthjustice.org/donate.
Intro and Outro music is Wasted Education by Blue Topaz.