Michigan State Representative Kara Hope sits and testifies in committee.

State Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt) testifies in favor of House Bill 4626 in the House Criminal Justice Committee on June 30, 2023, at the Anderson House Office Building in Lansing.

LANSING, Mich., June 11, 2024 — The Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bill 5393 today, extending the maximum term on the consent calendar for a juvenile from three to six months. The consent calendar is an informal docket of cases the court has determined should not proceed on the formal calendar but that the protective and supportive action by the court will serve the best interests of a juvenile and the public. The bill is a technical fix to the Justice for Kids and Communities project of 2023, which reforms the juvenile justice system to be more responsive to the needs of Michigan’s youth population and emphasizes rehabilitation over detention.

“Juveniles deserve a chance for rehabilitation and to avoid lifelong consequences that a record can bring,” state Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt) said. “The extension of the maximum term on a consent calendar will provide an alternate path for young people in the juvenile justice system to receive the help they need and avoid further run-ins with law enforcement.”

###