ABOUT THE JUVENILE DIVISION

The Juvenile Court is part of the Family Division of Circuit Court. The Juvenile Division of the Macomb County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office plays a key role in holding juveniles accountable for their criminal acts. In Michigan an individual who commits a misdemeanor or felony prior to his or her seventeenth birthday is treated as a juvenile. This division is responsible for the review of submitted police reports for legal sufficiency of criminal charges, charging juveniles with the appropriate offense, and following the case through the court system until the juvenile is adjudicated as a delinquent ward of the court. We place a strong emphasis on rehabilitating young offenders to prevent recidivism. Less serious offenses may be diverted to a community-based program, or where appropriate the juvenile “drug court” for those young people struggling with substance abuse problems. While rehabilitation is the central focus of the juvenile delinquency system, The Juvenile Division aggressively prosecutes the most serious offenders, some of whom are occasionally “ waived” to adult court. In those circumstances the juvenile will be treated as an adult, and may very well face imprisonment in the adult criminal justice system. In addition to the responsibility of managing delinquency matters, the Juvenile Division acts as the legal consultant to the Macomb County Department of Human Services in child abuse and neglect matters. When the Department of Human Services (DHS) substantiates a case of abuse or neglect of a child, the agency will present a petition to the court requesting removal of the child from the parental home. A Juvenile Division Assistant Prosecutor will appear at the initial or preliminary hearing conducted within 24 hours of the child’s removal. The Juvenile Division attorney will consult and advise the DHS throughout the course of the case, and will represent the agency at all subsequent court hearings. In cases of serious physical abuse, sexual abuse, or where a parent has been given time to rectify a problem but has failed to do so, the Juvenile Division will represent the agency in the subsequent trial seeking court termination of parental rights. In handling both delinquency and child protective proceedings, the Juvenile Division Assistant Prosecutors consult with police officers, school officials, court staff, DHS child protective services and foster care workers, mental health professionals, parents, children, crime victims and witnesses. The Macomb County Prosecuting Attorney’s Juvenile Division staffs a Chief Attorney, four Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, two support staff assistants, and one Victim Rights Advocate.