Michigan Juvenile Delinquency Cases and the Indian Child Welfare Act

Abstract

The Indian Child Welfare Act (“ICWA”) is best known as a federal law that applies in state court child protection cases involving Indian children. ICWA governs how courts must handle child welfare cases involving “Indian children” and sets out minimum federal requirements. ICWA, however, also applies in juvenile delinquency cases. Th is article will discuss the less well known legal protections for Indian children, their parents, and Native American tribes in juvenile delinquency cases under ICWA and Michigan Court Rules.