WCA Joins 60 Organizations in Open Letter Supporting Raise the Age

In an open letter to be hand-delivered to Albany today, Westchester Children’s Association joined sixty state-wide and national organizations including international human rights groups, social workers, faith-based organizations and children’s advocates, to strongly urged the passage of Raise the Age legislation before the sessions ends this week.

Currently, New York remains one of only two states that still prosecutes all 16- and 17 –year- olds in the justice system as adults.  New York also houses 16- and 17-year-olds in adult jails and prisons, where they are at grave risk of suicide, rape, and physical abuse, and often do not receive appropriate services.

With days remaining until the 2015 legislative session ends, it is imperative that there be no further delay in raising the age. The letter describes the horrific risks faced by youth incarcerated as adults, the collateral consequences of prosecuting children as adults, and evidence from other states that raising the age has proven to increase public safety.

Citing a recent case of suicide of a young man as a clear casualty of the existing practice and proof of why swift action must occur, the advocates wrote: “The tragic suicide of Kalief Browder illustrates the urgent need to raise the age immediately… We cannot lose another life as a result of this archaic policy.”

Download the full text of the letter

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