Approximately 100 youths, including some with no criminal record, have been exported, and another 200 were scheduled to be sent to facilities in other states. None of the youths had hearings to determine if the out of state placements were in their best interests. Some were exported from Michigan without their parents' knowledge. The ACLU filed the lawsuit on May 21. Named in the suit are Governor John Engler, Family Independence Agency Director Gerald Miller, and other state officials.
Plaintiffs are four youths who have been sent out of state and their parents.
The suit also requests certification of the case as a class action to protect all other juveniles in detention from being exported without a hearing or notice to parents. Two weeks after the ACLU filed its lawsuit, FIA Director Miller announced that he would reopen 30 beds at the W. J. Maxey Training School north of Ann Arbor, but not for youths already shipped out of state. Another 30 beds at Maxey could be open by October, and eight beds are to be reopened at a facility in Adrian.