Paul Elam, Ph.D., President of Public Policy Associates, Inc. (PPA), recently joined Michigan Radio’s Stateside program to discuss the need for reforms in Michigan’s juvenile justice system.
Dr. Elam was interviewed by Stateside’s Lester Graham after writing a guest commentary for Bridge magazine, an online publication of the Center for Michigan that focuses on solutions to important issues in Michigan.
“The juvenile justice in Michigan is unique because it is decentralized and privatized,” Dr. Elam said. “As a result, youth are treated differently and unfairly in various parts of the state. “
Governor Rick Snyder laid out his vision for restructuring juvenile justice about six years ago, but not much has changed.
“Thousands of Michigan’s most vulnerable youth continue to enter an outdated and unequal juvenile justice system,” Dr. Elam wrote in Bridge magazine. “Youth are treated differently in different counties, statewide data are incomplete, and Michigan is one of only five states left in the country that automatically prosecutes all 17-year-olds as adults.”
During the Stateside interview, Dr. Elam offered ideas for how the Legislature and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services can fix the disparities between counties to treat young people fairly and improve their chances for success.
The interview is available here to download and stream.
Dr. Elam is a leading expert on juvenile justice. He currently works with the Governor’s Committee on Juvenile Justice, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and local jurisdictions to ensure that justice-involved youth are treated fairly and equitably.
To find out more about PPA’s work in juvenile justice, contact Dr. Elam at 517-485-4477 or pelam@publicpolicy.com.