Forum on Juvenile Justice Reform

 

The League of Women Voters of Washtenaw County Present: 

FORUM ON JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM

Juvenile Justice reform in Michigan took a step forward in July, 2022 when the Governor-appointed Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform released its 32 recommendations, grounded in evidence-based practices.

To fully understand these recommendations and the work necessary to advance them, a public forum is being held in Washtenaw County featuring two of the task force members:

University of Michigan, Clinical Professor of Law, Kimberly Thomas

Professor Kimberly Thomas's research, teaching, and practice concentrate on criminal law and procedure, especially on sentencing law and practice, juvenile justice, parole and post-conviction, and indigent persons accused of crimes. Professor Thomas is the cofounder (with Professor Frank Vandervort) of the Juvenile Justice Clinic.

Michigan Center for Youth Justice (MCYJ), Executive Director, Jason Smith

Jason began his career in the field of juvenile justice as an intern with the Ingham County Circuit Court’s Family Division. After graduating from Michigan State University, Jason worked as a direct care provider at a transitional home for adjudicated girls, then as a case manager within Wayne County’s juvenile justice system. While working on his Master of Social Work degree at the University of Michigan, Jason interned with the Washtenaw County Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative and MCYJ. Before joining MCYJ in 2014, Jason co-managed a youth diversion program in Skokie, IL and was also a 2011 Youth Justice Leadership Institute Fellow with the National Juvenile Justice Network.

*This event is free and open to the public.