Abstract
This paper details the current standards and qualifications established for mental health providers in Michigan juvenile justice system (JJS) detention facilities. The state policies regulating JJS detention facilities are compared with Michigan’s Public Health Code Act (1978) and best-practice recommendations published by national mental health and juvenile justice authorities. This paper finds that Michigan policies regulating JJS detention facilities fall below both national best-practice recommendations and the state Public Health Code (1978), and effectively establish a standard of mental health care for youth in JJS detention facilities that is below what is established for youth in the general public. It is recommended that the State of Michigan, at minimum, update its policies regulating JJS detention facilities to reflect standards and professional definitions established by Public Health Code (1978) and those put forth by national mental health and juvenile justice authorities.
Recommended Citation
Montgomery, Jessica M.
(2026)
"Mental Health Standards in Michigan Juvenile Detention Facilities: At Odds with Best Practice and State’s Own Public Health Code,"
PNHA Review: Vol. 19:
Iss.
1, Article 7.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/pnhareview/vol19/iss1/7