On January 19th, 2015, Governor Cuomo and the Commission on Youth, Public Safety and Justice released their recommendations on how to improve the treatment of youth in the New York justice system. We thank them for including comprehensive reforms that will give youth a second chance and make our communities safer.
Key recommendations include:
1. Raising the age of adult criminal responsibility to 18 in phases.
2. Keeping youth out of adult jails and prisons.
3. Diverting more cases before they reach the courts.
4. Modifying how 16 and 17 year olds are handled in the court system, depending on the type of crime committed.
5. Reducing the lifetime obstacles faced by youth with a criminal record.
6. Making upfront investments in intensive interventions.
Expect to hear more details from us about the proposed changes in the coming weeks, including ways you can help make sure that the necessary legislation is passed.
New York will no longer be an outlier by treating 16 and 17 year olds as adults rather than children, and we look forward to seeing New York become a strong leader in juvenile justice reforms. Read a summary of the recommendations and view our fact sheet.
