Change is Coming: Youth and Michigan's Justice System: Michigan's Children's Matt Gillard

Welcome two members of the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile
Justice Reform to the Speaking for Kids Podcast to discuss a
series of 32 recommended reforms that hold the promise of
transforming the state’s court system for youth. Jason
Smith, executive director of the Michigan Center for Youth
Justice, and John Casteel, a former youth
involved in the juvenile system, said they were
optimistic that the work of the task force will result in a more
fair system for young people, with more protections, diversion
strategies, and improved opportunities for youth to thrive. Among
the panels’ priorities were helping to keep young people out of
detention facilities; reducing the number of incarcerated youth
for low-level offenses; providing better legal representation;
providing community-based family counseling and mental health
treatment; and eliminating onerous fines and fees charged by
juvenile courts. Listen to the podcast today.