New York prosecutors are mounting a coordinated push to reform the state’s controversial Raise the Age law as youth violent crime statistics show alarming increases, creating a critical test for Governor Kathy Hochul’s criminal justice agenda during an election year.
The Prosecutors’ Unified Front
The District Attorneys Association of the State of New York (DAASNY) has formally called for legislative changes to Raise the Age, citing what they describe as a disturbing uptick in youth violent crime across the state. This coordinated effort represents the most significant challenge to the controversial law since its implementation.
Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly, who serves as president of DAASNY, stated that prosecutors want to work with legislators and Governor Hochul to address shortcomings in the current system. “Any changes to Raise the Age should be consistent with the original intent of the law and should focus both on the rehabilitation of adolescent offenders and community safety,” Donnelly emphasized in her official statement.
What Raise the Age Changed
Signed into law by former Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2017, Raise the Age legislation fundamentally altered how New York handles juvenile offenders. The law raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18, meaning that in most cases, 16 and 17-year-olds cannot be initially tried in adult criminal court.
Key provisions of the current law include:
- Misdemeanors for 16 and 17-year-olds are handled in family court
- Felonies for these age groups are heard by family court judges in criminal court settings
- Many felony cases can be transferred entirely to family court
- New York was one of only two states still automatically trying teenagers as adults before the law’s passage
Hochul’s Precarious Position
Governor Kathy Hochul finds herself in a politically delicate situation as she prepares her 2026 policy agenda. While she stated in August that she was “willing to look at” potential changes to Raise the Age, she has remained largely silent on specific proposals as the legislative session approaches.
The timing is particularly sensitive for Hochul, who faces re-election this year. She must balance pressure from law enforcement and prosecutors against organized opposition from over 200 criminal justice groups that have formed the Coalition to Protect Raise The Age: Build Futures, Invest In Youth.
The Defense of Raise the Age
Supporters of the current law point to data showing that the largest increase in youth crime in New York City involves offenders younger than 16, who would not have been eligible for adult prosecution even before Raise the Age. The coalition defending the law argues it is working as intended by keeping young people out of the adult justice system.
“Raise the Age is working as intended — keeping young people out of the adult system and reducing harm,” a coalition spokesperson stated. “Since 2018, their share of felony and violent felony arrests has remained stable, even as overall arrest numbers have fluctuated, and youth reoffending rates are at or below pre–Raise the Age levels.”
Historical Context of Criminal Justice Battles
This confrontation follows a pattern of bruising fights between Hochul and the state legislature over criminal justice issues. In recent years, the governor has secured adjustments to both the discovery process for evidence presented at trial and the state’s 2018 bail reforms.
The current battle over Raise the Age represents the third major criminal justice reform facing potential modification under Hochul’s administration. Each previous negotiation required significant political capital and resulted in compromises that satisfied neither progressive nor conservative factions completely.
Political Implications for 2026 Elections
The Raise the Age debate occurs against the backdrop of a contentious election year. Hochul faces challenges from both the left and right, with Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado running to her left in the Democratic primary and Republican Bruce Blakeman preparing to tie her to the law and other criminal justice reforms.
State Senator Jabari Brisport, a democratic socialist from Brooklyn, became the first lawmaker to endorse Delgado this week, signaling potential fractures in Democratic unity on criminal justice issues. Blakeman has explicitly stated he plans to make Raise the Age a central issue in his campaign against Hochul.
What’s at Stake for New York Communities
The outcome of this debate will have profound implications for public safety, youth rehabilitation, and the state’s approach to juvenile justice. Prosecutors argue that current limitations prevent them from effectively addressing serious youth crime, particularly involving firearms.
Meanwhile, advocates maintain that returning to more punitive approaches would disproportionately harm communities of color and undermine rehabilitation efforts that show promising results in reducing recidivism.
As lawmakers return to Albany this week, all eyes will be on whether Governor Hochul includes Raise the Age reforms in her January 13 State of the State address, setting the stage for one of the most significant criminal justice battles of the legislative session.
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