Michigan is a decentralized state.  Delinquency services are provided by local county, private providers and the State of Michigan.

How is detention organized?  

Michigan currently has 14 secure detention facilities. Twelve are operated at the county-level by county administration, regional boards, or the Circuit Court, Family Division. The state Department of Human Services (DHS) operates the remaining two secure detention units.

Prosecutors or courts exercising the preliminary inquiry option make diversion decisions. The Juvenile Diversion Act in Michigan (Act No. 13 of the Public Acts of 1988) defines the requirements for diversion from court. Statute does not place time limits on diversion agreements; therefore, time limits vary by jurisdiction and local court rules.

The Michigan Crime Victims' Rights Act (MCL 780.751 – 780.802; MSA 28.1287(781)–28.1287(802)) applies to all juvenile offenses.

Family Division staff typically have the title Juvenile Probation Officer while DHS juvenile probation officers carry the title Juvenile Justice Specialist. Juvenile Justice Specialists (state probation) do not carry mixed caseloads of adults and juveniles, and Juvenile Probation Officers (local probation) generally do not carry mixed caseloads.

Entry level Juvenile Justice Specialists (i.e., state juvenile probation) must have a bachelor’s degree in the social sciences and two years of experience. Each Circuit Court, Juvenile Division establishes its own education requirements for local juvenile probation officers.

Commitments are made to the temporary legal custody of the  Department of Human Services (DHS), county juvenile agencies, or private child care institutions. State statute clearly authorizes Circuit Court, Family Divisions to place youth in the care of properly licensed child care institutions, both inside and outside of the State.

Michigan does not have a juvenile parole board or authority. The court has final authority for the release decision in both public commitments and private placements. However, the state, county, or private agency may petition the court to review the case for release.

State and county levels of government support the administration of aftercare in Michigan, with the Department of Human Service's (DHS) Bureau of Juvenile Justice (BJJ) administering offender re-entry services for its state wards and county agencies or courts providing aftercare for local commitments and private placements. The provision of DHS aftercare services in Michigan is referred to as offender re-entry.

Michigan’s purpose clause is rooted in the Standard Juvenile Court Act. Enacted in 1925 and revised numerous times, The Act proposed the idea the each child coming into court jurisdiction shall receive the care, guidance, and control that will be conducive to his welfare and to the best interest of the state. If the child is removed from the home, the court will provide care as equivalent as possible to that of his parents.

Lower Age: None specified 

Upper Age: 16 

Extended Age of Delinquency Jurisdiction: 20

Michigan has implemented Structured Decision Making (SDM), a risk and needs assessment process that uses research-based criteria to place juveniles committed or referred to placement. SDM is intended to drive increased development of community-based resources. No data is available as to the use of assessments in probation or aftercare decisions.