A top state lawmaker says it’s time to overhaul New York’s Raise the Age law, calling it a “failed policy” that’s putting communities at risk and shielding violent teens from accountability.
Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay issued a strong rebuke this week, citing rising youth violence and falling conviction rates as proof the law is backfiring. He says reform must be a top priority when lawmakers return to Albany next session.
Youth crime up, convictions down
The Raise the Age law, passed in 2017, moved most criminal cases involving 16- and 17-year-olds to family court. Supporters said it would offer a second chance to young offenders and reduce incarceration. Barclay says the result has been the opposite.
Citing data from NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, he said the number of young shooters has nearly doubled, and children injured in shootings are up 83% since the law changed.
It’s not just a New York City problem, Barclay argued. He pointed to an Albany case where 10 youths were shot — one fatally — and buildings were set on fire during Fourth of July celebrations.
Few facing serious consequences
Barclay compared outcomes before and after Raise the Age:
- In 2017, nearly 60% of teens charged with serious crimes were convicted in criminal court, with more than 1,000 going to jail or prison.
- In 2024, fewer than 10% of those charged with felonies were convicted, and less than 5% were sent to state custody for over a year.
“These young men and women know what they are doing is wrong,” he said. “We must hold them accountable.”
Proposed legislation would limit family court use
Barclay has introduced a bill (A.4705) that would keep serious felony cases involving teen offenders in criminal court instead of automatically diverting them to family court, where records are sealed.
He says the change is necessary to close a loophole being exploited by gang leaders and others who rely on teens to commit crimes while avoiding adult penalties.
Push for bipartisan support
Barclay says law enforcement, district attorneys, and victims’ advocates across the state support changes. He framed the issue as one of fairness — not just to communities, but to crime victims.
The Assembly Minority Conference plans to make Raise the Age reform a focal point of the upcoming session.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].