The Michigan Legislature’s Lame Duck session has certainly had its share of fireworks already, including the efforts to dramatically undermine the minimum wage and paid sick leave proposals, but we want to make sure this important, urgent and bipartisan effort did not get lost in the shuffle. The League, our partners and an extensive, bipartisan group of legislators have been working for years to raise the age of Michigan’s juvenile jurisdiction from 17 to 18 years old.
17-year-olds are not adults. It’s simple. They can’t vote, serve in the military, sit on a jury, get a tattoo, buy a lotto ticket, or work a full-time job. And thank goodness for that! We need our 17-year-old kids to spend their days in school while they continue to grow and develop their brains.
But there’s a catch.
They’re not adults, but in Michigan, 17-year-olds are AUTOMATICALLY treated as adults in one glaring regard–our criminal justice system. For even minor, nonviolent crimes, a 17-year-old kid will be sent to court as an adult. This is an antiquated policy that began in a time when most kids completed school in eighth grade, and when most boys worked full time at the age of 17.
Republicans. Democrats. Police officers. Judges. Parents. Teenagers. Finding common ground is tough in 2018, so when something has support from pretty much everyone in the room, we need to pay attention. And that’s the kind of support Raise the Age has.
There are just a few weeks left to make sure 17-year-olds are treated in the juvenile justice system from now on. We need you to help us by taking action today!
And it’s not just the League encouraging you help Raise the Age. It’s folks on both sides of the aisle and in every facet of the system. Here’s just a sampling of their views:
“We have a responsibility and moral obligation to get this figured out and implement responsible, smart and forward-looking policy – for our kids, for our communities, for our public safety, and for our strong, shared future.” – John Evans, retired court administrator, Livingston County
“Only four states automatically prosecute 17-year-olds as adults. Unfortunately, Michigan is one of them, and it does so regardless of the severity of the crime. This public policy is not sustainable. It’s out-of-step with best practices, recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, and Michigan law. On top of that, the punishment is cruel, discriminatory, and counter-productive. Approximately two-thirds of Michigan youth prosecuted as adults were convicted of non-violent offenses that did not include weapons.” – Detective Sergeant Theodore Nelson, retired, Michigan State Police
“Seventeen is still too young to automatically treat a convict as an adult. Judges should have the discretion to consider individual factors in deciding the right path for each defendant.” The Detroit News Editorial Board
“If we can intervene at an earlier age, send them to juvenile facilities, and hopefully correct whatever antisocial behavior they may have, whether that’s stealing a pack of gum, or driving 70 mph in a 25 mph speeding zone, then that’s to the benefit” State Representative Martin Howrylak (R),
“The adult system puts youth at greater risk for sexual assault, violence and self-harm, without giving them the proper assistance and skills needed to re-enter society. These circumstances do not prepare 17-year-olds for a successful life after their sentence. Rather, they disrupt their development and prospects for rehabilitation.” – Tom Hickson, Michigan Catholic Conference
“In Michigan, half of 17-year-olds who are pushed into the adult justice system are youth of color, yet they make up less than one-fourth of the population. When someone ends up tangled in the criminal justice system, it increases their risk of poor health outcomes – not just for themselves, but also for their families and for our whole community.We believe it’s possible to keep our communities safe and healthy, and it starts by eliminating automatic adult prosecution for Michigan’s kids.” – Renee Canady, CEO, Michigan Public Health Institute
“[Raising the age] is an opportunity to give thousands of children a healthier, more productive future while making our communities safer and more financially secure. We should take it.” Kahryn Riley, Mackinac Center for Public Policy
“In my opinion, it’s the right thing to do to raise the age to 18. It’s very, very problematic to house these kids in our facility and in my opinion it really does them no good.” -Sheriff Scott Wregglesworth, Ingham County
“Seventeen-year olds who are convicted as adults and confined in adult jails and prisons are more likely to experience physical and sexual violence, traumatic isolation, restraint and suicide than youth with similar offenses placed in juvenile facilities. In addition, a criminal record can create lifelong barriers that limit these kids’ ability to find gainful employment, continue their education, or secure stable housing, making it even more difficult to become productive members of society. Youth prosecuted as adults earn 40% less over their lifetime than youth in the juvenile justice system.” – Reverend Dee Dee Coleman, President of the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity
The Raise the Age legislative package took a big step forward last week with the House Law and Justice Committee’s passage of the bills. But there is much more work to be done, as it has to pass the full House and Senate before the Lame Duck legislative session ends in December or we have to start all over. Please help Raise the Age today by contacting your lawmakers and encouraging them to support Michigan kids and families.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
