Soaring teen crime a message for Hochul — fix Raise the Age and save New York’s kids

The 2025 year-end crime briefing by Commissioner Jessica Tisch highlighted significant successes in reducing crime rates in New York City, with a notable exception: juvenile crime. Despite the overall decrease in murders, robberies, thefts, and burglaries, juvenile crime continued to rise.

One possible explanation for this trend is the state’s 2018 Raise the Age law, which increased the age of criminal responsibility to 18. This means that most 16- and 17-year-old offenders are now routed to Family Court, where they may receive diversionary adjustments by the probation department instead of facing more severe consequences.

The rise in juvenile crime, particularly in gun violence, has raised concerns among law enforcement officials and district attorneys across the state. Calls to revise the Raise the Age law to address the increase in youth gun violence have been growing louder.

While some argue that rehabilitation programs for juvenile offenders could help address the issue, skepticism remains about the effectiveness of such programs. The focus should be on filling the gaps created by the Raise the Age law, rather than relying solely on rehabilitation efforts.

Critics of the Raise the Age law contend that its primary goal of keeping juveniles out of the adult system and avoiding incarceration has come at a cost. The law’s impact on juvenile offending is evident in the rising number of serious violent felony arrests involving minors.

Addressing juvenile crime should be a priority, and policymakers should consider potential reforms to the Raise the Age law to ensure public safety while supporting the rehabilitation and well-being of young offenders. Resistance to revisiting the law in light of its unintended consequences should be weighed against the impact on teen victims of violent crime.

In conclusion, the current data on juvenile crime in New York City underscore the urgency of addressing this issue. Revisiting the Raise the Age law and proposing targeted reforms to improve the justice system’s response to juvenile offenders is crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.