Impact of 'Raise the Age' Law on Youth Crime in New York
Since New York's 2017 'Raise the Age' law aimed to divert 16- and 17-year-olds from adult courts to juvenile facilities, data shows overall youth crime has decreased as a share of total crime, despite a rise in youth-involved shootings and firearm possession cases, possibly due to legal provisions that make gun possession cases more likely to be handled in Family Court. The law has not led to an increase in youth crime overall, but specific issues like gun violence among youth have emerged, highlighting the need for nuanced policy adjustments.
