“Raise The Age” Bills Moving Thru Legislature

A push to no longer automatically try 17-year-olds as adults is gaining momentum in Michigan’s Legislature. The Senate overwhelmingly approved a 14-bill package Wednesday to put 17-year-old offenders in the juvenile justice system, with an exception for violent felony cases. Senator Peter Lucido of Macomb County co-sponsored the bills and says the option will still be there to prosecute suspects who are younger than 18 on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of the crime and the person’s criminal record.

“The waiver is not part, at all, of raising the age,” says the Republican lawmaker.

The House plans to pass a similar plan Thursday. Michigan is among just four states whose default is to treat 17-year-olds as adults in criminal proceedings. The bills’ supporters say 17-year-olds could receive age-appropriate rehabilitation services that are unavailable in the adult corrections system. They say it is unfair to treat 17-year-olds as adults when 18 is the minimum wage to vote and serve on a jury.