Dustin Whitford is only 17, but he got involved in this year's Ingham County Sheriff's race because the results affect him. He's been through the juvenile justice system.
"There's so many people who run these academies, and they don't know what they're getting into, they've never experienced it, and if they hear from people that actually went through it, it may give them a better perspective on how to run it," said the Ingham Academy graduate.
He asked the candidates what they will do to make sure the mental health of parents factors into how their children are treated and punished.
Candidate and East Lansing Police Lieutenant Scott Wriggelsworth says, if he is elected, he will continue to listen to young people and help make sure the justice system serves them.
"We need to do a better job as a community to point kids in the right direction to get them the help they need," Wriggelsworth said. "Spend the time with them. I talked a lot tonight about time, just spending time, time doesn't cost us anything."
The Democratic candidate says he and the ELPD have started reaching out to young people and drug addicts whose homes they are repeatedly called to to get them help instead of continuously punishing them.
"Once you catch a case or two and then you catch a felony, it's really really hard to ever dig out of that hole," he said. "If we can keep them out of crisis, the better off they're going to be and the better off we're going to be."
Former Ingham County Captain Eric Trojanowicz is running against Wriggelsworth. He says he wants to help young people by listening to them as well, and has experience as a mentor to children because he's been a coach for 15 years.
"We just need to have programs in place that when kids are struggling that we can get them into these programs and get them the treatment they need, or just have someone there to talk to from time to time because that's sometimes all they need," Trojanowicz said.
He also says, with his 25 years of experience in the Sheriff's Department, he can make necessary changes - like making sure enough patrol cars are on the roads for it to be safe for deputies.
"I can restructure the Sheriff's office to provide more road patrol to our out-county residents without any costs to tax payers," he said.
The winner of the Ingham County Sheriff's race will replace Gene Wriggelsworth. He has served for 28 years - the longest run ever for an Ingham County Sheriff.
Vote on Tuesday, November 8.
