New York’s recent Raise the Age legislation, passed in 2017 and phased in over the following two years, has symbolized a commitment to reforming the youth criminal justice system in New York State. Prior to Raise the Age, sixteen- and seventeen-year old defendants were prosecuted in adult courts, where they were subject to longer sentences and permanent criminal conviction records that made it difficult to reenter society. The new legislation changes the age at which youth under eighteen can be tried as adults in criminal court. While Raise the Age is an important step forward, it did not change the process for youth charged with violent felonies, still requiring their automatic prosecution as adults.

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