Hochul shies away from rolling back criminal justice reforms like Raise the Age, boasting NYS ‘got them done’

Governor Kathy Hochul has faced criticism for not addressing major public safety issues, such as the state’s “Raise the Age” law, in her proposed $260 billion budget for the upcoming year. Hochul defended her decision by stating, “We have already dealt with many criminal justice reforms that others didn’t think we’d be able to accomplish, including people in this room. We got them done. So look at what’s been accomplished.”

The Raise the Age law, which raised New York’s age of criminal responsibility to 18, has been a point of contention since its enactment in 2019. Critics argue that the law needs to be fixed or rolled back, as it has been linked to rising violence involving youths. District Attorneys Association of the State of New York President Mary Pat Donnelly emphasized the need for a thorough examination of Raise the Age and how the state is investing in youth services and crime prevention.

While law enforcement officials blame Raise the Age for youth violence, advocates with The Coalition to Protect Raise the Age argue that reverting to the old system of trying 16- and 17-year-olds as adults is not the solution. They believe that adolescents are children and should not be prosecuted as adults. Hochul has previously shown willingness to make adjustments to criminal justice reforms, as she has done with bail and evidence laws in past budgets.

As budget talks continue, Hochul hinted at the possibility of introducing surprise policy items. She emphasized that the proposed budget is not final and that changes could still be made before the April 1 deadline. The debate over the Raise the Age law and its impact on public safety is likely to remain a key issue as the budget negotiations progress.