Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced that the Raise the Age law is now in effect. The law removes 16-year-olds who have committed a criminal act as of midnight today from the adult criminal justice system and places them in age-appropriate settings where they can receive needed services and treatment to avoid recidivism. Those 16-year-olds who are arrested for non-violent offenses will have the same opportunities for diversion and community-based services as youth 15 and under. Meanwhile, 16-year-olds charged with serious offenses will be processed as adolescent offenders in a Youth Part of criminal court and placed in specialized secure detention facilities for adolescents instead of adult jails. The law will extend to 17-year-olds on October 1, 2019.
"At a time when President Trump and this federal government are taking us backward, New York is moving forward with bold criminal justice reform," Governor Cuomo said. "By raising the age of criminal responsibility, New York is putting an end to an injustice that falls disproportionately on people of color and once again proving that we are the progressive beacon for the nation. In New York, we will never stop fighting for a more equal and more just society for all."
"New York is leading the nation with our bold progressive agenda, while the Trump administration and Republicans in Washington continue to threaten our progress and our values," Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said. "We're raising the age of criminal responsibility to remove 16 and 17-year-olds from the adult criminal justice system and place them in settings with proper services and treatment. We championed this cause of ending the injustice of treating teenagers as adults. Now we must extend justice and fairness to those who are held before trial simply because they cannot make bail. We will continue to fight to ensure that people of color and individuals in high-needs communities are given equal opportunities to live their lives to the fullest."
Click here for the full announcement.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
"At a time when President Trump and this federal government are taking us backward, New York is moving forward with bold criminal justice reform," Governor Cuomo said. "By raising the age of criminal responsibility, New York is putting an end to an injustice that falls disproportionately on people of color and once again proving that we are the progressive beacon for the nation. In New York, we will never stop fighting for a more equal and more just society for all."
"New York is leading the nation with our bold progressive agenda, while the Trump administration and Republicans in Washington continue to threaten our progress and our values," Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said. "We're raising the age of criminal responsibility to remove 16 and 17-year-olds from the adult criminal justice system and place them in settings with proper services and treatment. We championed this cause of ending the injustice of treating teenagers as adults. Now we must extend justice and fairness to those who are held before trial simply because they cannot make bail. We will continue to fight to ensure that people of color and individuals in high-needs communities are given equal opportunities to live their lives to the fullest."
Click here for the full announcement.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
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