Gov. Kathy Hochul won’t touch New York’s Raise the Age law in her upcoming budget, shutting down months of pressure from prosecutors, according to Spectrum News. The decision keeps 16- and 17-year-olds out of adult criminal court.
Hochul opted to avoid a legislative fight in an election year, confirming her budget will include no changes to the 2017 law. Advocates and Democratic lawmakers welcomed the move, calling Raise the Age a success that needs better funding, not revisions.
Prosecutors had pushed for clearer rules on gun cases and exceptions sending teens to criminal court. But supporters say the focus now shifts to fully implementing the law statewide.
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].