Juvenile Justice Advisory Council

“Nothing about us, without us”

In June of 2022, the Governor appointed Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform created multiple recommendations to help reform juvenile justice. Recommendation #32 charged juvenile justice efforts include:

“Establish(ing) a statewide youth and family juvenile justice advisory group to inform resource allocation decisions and ensure that policy adoption and implementation are vetted and supported by authentic youth and family participation, to include but not be limited to educational advancement while youth are in the juvenile justice system.

a. The statewide advisory group shall work with local courts and tribes, SCAO, and MDHHS to develop a statewide family engagement strategy, including family engagement policies and standards across diversion, court, probation, detention, and placement.”

This recommendation encouraged juvenile justice partners to ensure those with lived experience in juvenile justice as a vital part of juvenile justice reform. In the words of JJAC, “Nothing about us, without us.”

Council Development and focus

• In 2023, the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council (JJAC) was created with support of MDHHS and in coordination with other juvenile justice (JJ) partners.
• JJAC is chaired by Michael Davis-Thomas and co-chaired by Ebony Hemphill.
• The council currently includes seven lived experience members, with the eventual goal of 12 members.
• JJAC is funded through the MDHHS Children’s Services Administration, and two federal grants, and is provided administrative support through the MDHHS Juvenile Justice Bureau.
• JJAC members are reimbursed for time and travel.

Areas of focus for the council include, but are not limited to:

• Engaging JJ youth and their families/support to ensure their voices and concerns are heard and addressed,
• JJAC outreach to secure and non-secure facilities,
• Participation in all efforts focused on JJ reform (inclusion in committees, tool development and use and JJ policies and practice, among others), and
• Community outreach including but not limited to listening circles; engaging JJ administration, management and caseworkers to encourage and support improvements to the JJ system.

JJAC Accomplishments

To date, JJAC has:

• Developed a robust and active JJ lived experience council, including eight members throughout the state.
• Maintained at least monthly meetings, quarterly face-to-face meetings, various subcommittees and regular engagement with members,
• Been included in a variety of JJ councils and committees, sharing their insights, suggestions and concerns,
• Engaged various secure and non-secure facilities- having JJAC members meet with youth and staff, assess the support provided to these facilities and the needs of the youth they serve and then providing their feedback and recommendations to the department,
• Reviewed contracts, policy and initiatives related to JJ reform,
• Created training, guidelines, and expectations for council members.

JJAC Goals and Initiatives

JJAC desires integration with systems and services critical to JJ reform. To achieve that goal, the council will:

• Continue to develop the council in coordination with JJ partners,
• Play an active role in all relevant councils and committees,
• Actively reach out to JJ partners, service providers, community members and most importantly- JJ youth and families to ensure their experiences and voices are heard, understood and included in all JJ reform efforts.