LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation to raise the age of which offenders are treated as adults in the criminal justice system, from 17- to 18-years-old.
The move means Michigan will no longer be among just four states to consider 17-year-olds as adults. The change will take effect in two years.
Supporters of the bills say putting 17-years-olds in the adult system can harm them for life, affecting their ability to get a job and making it more likely they will re-offend.
The Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency called the legislation "a milestone in youth justice reform."
"More youth will be able to get the age-appropriate treatment they need, providing a better pathway to become a productive, tax-paying citizen," executive director Mary King said in a statement. "It means that teenage mistakes won’t result in the lifelong consequences of an adult conviction."
The legislation requires parental notification at the time of arrest, provides funding to juvenile courts to implement the policy change, and prohibits the overwhelming majority of 17-year-olds from being held in adult facilities.
Prosecutors could still try 17-year-olds as adults for violent offenses such as murder.
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist says "raising the age" in Michigan will substantially lower the number of youth being charged as adults across the country, from 76,000 down to 40,000.