Senator Tom O’Mara says one of New York’s most well-intentioned criminal justice reforms has become one of its most dangerous — and it’s time to fix it.
In his weekly column for the week of August 25, O’Mara points to the “Raise the Age” law as a key example of how policy missteps can backfire. While the law originally aimed to steer 16- and 17-year-olds away from adult prosecution and toward rehabilitation, he says it’s led to unintended consequences that have made communities less safe.
District attorneys across the state agree. O’Mara notes that the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York is making changes to Raise the Age its top legislative priority for 2026, calling for reforms through the state budget process.
Critics of the law argue it’s enabled gangs to recruit teens, knowing they’ll face lighter consequences. O’Mara calls it part of a broader trend of “no consequences” policies pushed by Democratic leadership, including bail reform and parole changes.
Data from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services shows a sharp drop in felony convictions for 16- and 17-year-olds — from 60% in 2017 to just under 10% last year. O’Mara says the current system too often fails crime victims and lets young offenders slip through the cracks.
“We got it wrong the first time,” he writes. “It’s time to make it right.”
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