How Young is too Young to be Charged as an Adult?

A bipartisan group of lawmakers are introducing a package of bills to revamp the state’s criminal justice system and how it handles young criminals.

Specifically the lawmakers want to up the age someone can be charged as an adult. In Michigan that age is 17, in 41 other states it’s 18.

State Representative Harvey Santana, a Detroit Democrat, questions how putting a 17 year old in an adult prison helps the teenager. Santana is spearheading the 21 bill endeavor.

The bills could get a hearing as soon as next week in the House Criminal Justice Committee.