Kalamazoo Community Leaders Combat Rise of Juvenile Delinquent Activity

By Henry Simon, Intern for Kalamazoo County Probate Judge Curtis Bell

In the years before 2017, community leaders in Kalamazoo began noticing an upward trend of juvenile delinquent activity.  These leaders reached out to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) in hopes of reversing this trend.  Upon analysis, KDPS realized that a small number of juvenile offenders was responsible for the majority of juvenile delinquency cases.  Many of those youths were already on probation.  Over the past four years, the Bridging Opportunities Program has focused on supporting these youths over the summer months.

Juvenile offenses have declined since the program’s inception in 2017.
(Source: Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.)

Beating the Budget in Midland County Juvenile Court

By Judge Dorene Allen, Midland County Probate and C42 Presiding Family Division Judge


In 2018, the Midland County Probate and Family Court came in more than $1 million under budget.  I have been asked how that could be possible.  The answer is simple: residential placements of delinquent and dual (neglect and delinquent jurisdiction) ward youth.  

Berrien’s “3 WINS” Program: A Better Way to Make Amends

By Elvin Gonzalez, Family Division Administrator, Berrien County Trial Court


Question:  How can you get restitution from juveniles who are too young to work and live in a community with a 13 percent unemployment rate and 50 percent poverty rate?


Answer:  3 WINS!!

“One Bad Decision Away From Danger”: Berrien County Implements a Juvenile Human Trafficking Screening Protocol

By Elvin Gonzalez, Family Division Administrator, Berrien County Trial Court

Berrien County Trial Court-Family Division Judge Jennifer Smith says, “The children of our communities are vulnerable in so many ways.  It is imperative for us to recognize this and to accept that human trafficking is one of the dangers facing children in all of our communities today.  It is our duty to create tools to identify those most at risk and put safety nets in place to assist them.”

The Berrien County Trial Court's juvenile human trafficking screening process flow.

Juvenile Justice Overhaul in Muskegon County Family Division

By Sandra Vanderhyde, 14th Circuit Court Administrator

Several years ago, the Muskegon County Family Division determined it needed a complete overhaul of its juvenile justice system.  The timing was right.  The county had funds that could be used toward this effort as part of a Systems of Care grant that was awarded to HealthWest (Muskegon County’s Community Mental Health Agency) and the court had just taken over operations of the Muskegon County Juvenile Transition Center from the county.  Some leadership changes also made the timing ideal.

Kent County Girls Court Addresses Female Juvenile Delinquency

By Marcela Moralez-Morris, Supervisor of Girls Court Program, 17th Circuit Court

The 17th Circuit Court created a Girls Court to address the growing trend of female juvenile offenders who come in contact with law enforcement and the court system.  Female offenders are increasing significantly nationwide, but the services available to help these young ladies are limited.  

Keeping Kids out of the Criminal Justice System

By Bailey Bach, 17th Circuit Court Intern and Grand Valley State University Student (Kent County)

Most people agree that education provides the foundation for a successful, independent adult life.  Many jobs require a high school diploma or a GED, leaving those who fail to finish school at a disadvantage.  However, many students today are unable to see the value of their education, and truancy has become a problem in school districts across the country.  Truancy can be associated with failure to finish school, substance abuse, and delinquency that may continue into adulthood.  This connection between truancy and delinquency has spurred many school districts to attempt to deter truancy and encourage school attendance.

New Initiatives and Programs in 3rd Circuit

By Richard Smart, Deputy Court Administrator, 3rd Circuit Juvenile Division (Wayne County)

On Friday, December 1, 2017, the Juvenile Division of the 3rd Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan and the Casey Family Program Foundation hosted a celebration and showcase of new initiatives and programs at the Detroit Branch of the Chicago Federal Reserve Building. 

SCAO Addresses Juvenile Data Integrity Concerns with Record Review

By Laura Hutzel, Statistical Research Director, and
Noah Bradow, Management Analyst

Improving outcomes by measuring performance requires data accuracy. Each year, the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) collects and analyzes case age data from each court.  The information collected shows how courts are performing under established time guidelines.  During annual visits with regional administrators, this data is presented back to the courts along with the performance of other comparative courts.

This sort of comparison naturally has the tendency to spur questions about the performance and data practices in other counties.