A 17-year-old in Flint is stopped by police on the walk home from a basketball game, and the stop ends with a charge. In Michigan, that case almost always goes to juvenile court, not adult court. Since the state's Raise the Age law, anyone under 18 is treated as a minor in the juvenile system, and the rules that follow are different from the adult ones in ways worth knowing ahead of time.
Who juvenile court covers, and when a case can go to adult court
Michigan law gives the juvenile court exclusive original jurisdiction (the first and only say) over a young person under 18 accused of breaking a state law, a federal law, or a city ordinance.
There is one big exception. If a teen 14 or older is charged with a 'specified juvenile violation', a short list of the most serious crimes such as murder or armed robbery, the prosecutor can choose to file the case in adult court instead. If you or someone you know faces one of those charges, a lawyer is needed right away.
Your rights in the case, and the new rule on lawyers
In In re Gault (1967), the U.S. Supreme Court held that a young person in juvenile court has the right to notice of the charges, the right to a lawyer, the right to question witnesses, and the right not to incriminate themselves. Those rights apply in every Michigan juvenile case.
In July 2026, Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bill 81, which adds youth defense to the job of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC), the state agency that sets standards for public defenders. A young person who cannot afford a lawyer without serious financial hardship can get one through that system. The bill also says a young person cannot give up the right to a lawyer unless someone first explains what giving it up means, and the waiver is made on the record and in writing. We could not confirm the date it takes effect, so ask the court.
If police want to question you, you can say you want a parent and a lawyer before you answer.
Records: Clean Slate for Kids and the under-12 curfew
Under Michigan's Clean Slate for Kids law, many juvenile adjudications (the juvenile version of a conviction) are set aside automatically, with no application, 2 years after court supervision ends or at age 18, whichever comes later. Once that happens, the law treats you as never having been adjudicated. The most serious offenses are excluded, and the Michigan State Police keep a nonpublic record that is open mainly to courts, police, and prosecutors. Many offenses that are not set aside automatically can still be set aside by applying to the court, starting 1 year after the court's jurisdiction ends.
Michigan also has a statewide curfew for children under 12: they cannot hang out on a public street, alley, or park between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless a parent, guardian, or an adult the parent chose is with them. For teens, curfews come from city and township ordinances, so check your own.
Where to get defense help
If you are charged, ask the judge at the first hearing for an appointed lawyer. Do not sign anything giving up that right. The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission sets the statewide standards for appointed lawyers, and each county's court arranges who represents you.
After the case ends, write down the date court supervision stopped. That date, plus 2 years or your 18th birthday, is when an automatic set-aside should happen. If you are unsure whether your offense qualifies, the court that handled the case can tell you.
Remember this
- In Michigan, juvenile court handles cases for anyone under 18, but a teen 14 or older charged with certain serious crimes can be charged in adult court.
- In re Gault (1967) gives you the right to a lawyer and the right not to incriminate yourself in juvenile court.
- Senate Bill 81 (2026) brings youth into Michigan's public defense system and requires a written, on-the-record waiver before a young person gives up a lawyer.
- Clean Slate for Kids sets aside many juvenile records automatically 2 years after supervision ends or at 18, whichever is later.
Sources
- Michigan Legislature: MCL 712A.2, authority and jurisdiction of the juvenile court (opens in a new tab)
- Michigan Legislature: MCL 712A.18t, automatic set-aside of juvenile adjudications (opens in a new tab)
- Office of Governor Whitmer: Gov. Whitmer Signs Bills Reforming Michigan's Juvenile Justice System (opens in a new tab)
- Legal Information Institute (Cornell): In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1 (1967) (opens in a new tab)
This article provides general educational information, not individualized legal advice. KidsKnowRights is not a law firm, and reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary by state, age, and circumstances, and they change over time. For advice about a real situation, talk with a licensed attorney or a legal aid organization.