Report in Support of Raising the Age of Criminal Responsibility

SUMMARY

The City Bar supports raising the age of criminal responsibility to 18 years old for all crimes because that change will protect the well-being of our youth, reduce recidivism and improve public safety.  New York lags behind the rest of the nation in automatically prosecuting youth at age 16 in the adult system.  Research shows that transferring youth to the adult system, and housing youth in adult facilities, increases the chance of recidivism and is detrimental to public safety.  New York can move forward to a smarter criminal justice policy by raising the age of criminal responsibility, ensuring youth receive community treatment instead of adult incarceration, and diverting low-risk youth from the justice system. In addition, by ensuring that youth are not saddled with the lifetime consequences of adult convictions and by addressing racial disparities, our government can ensure that New York youth have the opportunity to participate as full members of their communities.

Originally Issued October 2014; Updated and Reissued March 2017

BILL INFORMATION

A.3009-C / S.2009-C, Part WWW – Budget Article VII (NYS 2017)

OUTCOME

Signed by Governor, Chp. 59 – April 10, 2017