WHITE PLAINS, NY – Westchester-area clergy joined a growing chorus of faith leaders from other parts of the state when they released a letter of support for Raise the Age legislation. Over 35 clergy members signed onto the letter that will be delivered to Governor Cuomo, Majority Leader Flanagan and Speaker Heastie. Westchester Children’s Association (WCA) organized a press conference on the release of the letter. WCA is the lead agency for the Raise the Age NY campaign in Westchester.
Pastor Jeffrey Geary of White Plains Presbyterian Church on North Broadway, made it clear, why the time is now to pass raise the age legislation for criminal responsibility from 16 to 18 years of age, “As faith leaders from many backgrounds, traditions and beliefs, we stand here united by our great concern for the future of children in our communities.” He went on to say, “This is crucial legislation that needs to pass this June to increase public safety and help end the cycle of crime. We want our elected officials to hear our plea to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18 years-old.”
The Raise the Age campaign supports age-appropriate punishment for youth who commit crimes. What they want the public to know is that adult prisons do not focus on rehabilitation, and are not designed to meet the needs of children. Young people confined in adult facilities are much more likely to face traumatic physical and sexual violence than those in juvenile facilities. Current law sets young people up to become re-offenders: research has shown that young people who go through the adult system are much more likely to re-offend than those in the juvenile system. Studies have found that young people transferred to the adult criminal justice system have approximately 34% more re-arrests for felony crimes than youth retained in the youth justice system. Around 80% of youth released from adult prisons reoffend often going on to commit more serious crimes.
Although Governor Cuomo has set aside money in the budget, the state legislature has failed to pass legislation. New York is only one of two states that automatically prosecute 16 year-olds as adults.
The discussion on Raise the Age continues on Friday, May 13. WCA will hold an event at Berkeley College in White Plains at 8:30 am. Mark White, Deputy Commissioner of DCJS Office of Juvenile Justice, will talk about current efforts to raise the age in New York. Visit their website at wca4kids.org to register and to read the full letter from clergy.
Front row left to right: Rev. Dr. Bonnie Rosborough, Briarcliff Congregational Church, Rev. Erwin Lee Trollinger, Calvary Baptist Church White Plains, Allison Lake, WCA, Rev Jeffrey Geary, White Plains Presbyterian Church, Bart Worden, Clergy Leader Ethical Society of Westchester and Back row left to right: Kerry Megley, Family Ties, Cora Greenberg, WCA, Kay Schonberg, retired SW, Prof. Merill Sobie, Pace Law School, Frank Williams, White Plains Youth Bureau
