ADRIAN GIRLS’ TRAINING SCHOOL
House Bill 5215 as introduced
Sponsor: Rep. Bronna Kahle
Committee: Oversight
Complete to 1-23-18
SUMMARY:
House Bill 5215 would repeal a provision that establishes a criminal penalty for certain conduct regarding a student at the former Adrian Girls’ Training School. The school, a juvenile justice facility serving women between 12 and 21 years of age, closed on January 24, 2009.[1]
Specifically, the bill would repeal Section 185 of the Michigan Penal Code, which makes it a misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to 1 year in the county jail and/or a fine of not more than $1,000, to do any of the following regarding a girl who is an inmate at the school:
· Knowingly aid or assist her to escape from the facility.
· Knowingly aid, entice, or assist her to escape from any other home or other place where she had been placed by the training school.
· Knowingly aid or assist her to leave the state.
· Marry her, knowing she is an inmate or subject of the training school, without the consent of the school’s superintendent.
The bill would take effect 90 days after enactment.
MCL 750.185 (repealed)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Adrian Training School (ATS) was a juvenile justice facility established by the Michigan Legislature in 1881 and operated by the former Bureau of Juvenile Justice and Department of Human Services (now Department of Health and Human Services). Circuit courts from around the state referred girls between 12 and 21 years of age to the facility. Girls were referred for such things as education deficits, criminal behavior, substance abuse, sexual or physical abuse, and self-destructive behavior. The ATS was a medium-security residential facility that provided a wide range of treatment and educational services. For several years beginning in the 1970s, the facility also accepted males. The ATS was closed due to budgetary issues in early 2009.
FISCAL IMPACT:
House Bill 5215 would have no fiscal impact on the state or on local units of government. The girls’ training school in Adrian closed in 2009, so the opportunity for misdemeanor convictions for aiding the escape of inmates or marrying inmates without consent has not existed since that time.
Legislative Analyst: Susan Stutzky
Fiscal Analyst: Robin Risko
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
[1] “ATS to close this Saturday,” The Daily Telegram (Adrian), January 22, 2009. http://www.lenconnect.com/article/20090122/NEWS/301229951