DCS/LGU Resources

Planning
Post Date: January 21, 2015

Report of Commission on Youth Public Safety and Justice

In his 2014 State of the State address, the Governor proposed establishing the commission to "Raise the Age" and help to ensure young people become productive and successful adults. The Commission on Youth, Public Safety & Justice, which will provide concrete, actionable recommendations regarding youth in New York's criminal and juvenile justice systems by the end of this calendar year.

It’s time to improve New York’s outdated juvenile justice laws and raise the age at which our children can be tried and charged as adults, Governor Cuomo said. New York is one of only two states that charges 16- and 17 year olds as adults. It’s not right and it’s not fair. New York remains one of the only two states in the nation whose age of criminal responsibility the age at which youths are treated as adults is just 16. As a result, in 2013, over 33,000 16- and 17-year-olds in New York had their cases handled in adult criminal court, where they are less likely to receive the services they need.

Read the report here.