“Mission accomplished” and “done” mean the same thing, right?
Governor Kathy Hochul faced some confusion after defending her proposed $260 billion budget for the coming year, particularly regarding issues of public safety and the state’s “raise the age” law.
“We’ve managed to push through numerous criminal justice reforms that others didn’t think were possible,” she told reporters. “We accomplished it, so there’s no need to revisit those reforms. Look at what we achieved,” she emphasized.
This optimistic viewpoint didn’t sit well with critics who believe the age increase law needs adjustments or even a repeal.
The law itself raised the age of criminal responsibility in New York to 18, preventing 16- and 17-year-olds from being tried as adults for most non-felony offenses.
Since its introduction in 2019, many prosecutors, including NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, have pointed to this law as a factor behind increasing youth violence and the violence directed at young people.
Mary Pat Donnelly, who leads the New York State District Attorneys Association, pushed back against Hochul’s remarks, stating, “Those who initially sponsored Raise the Age recognized that the law would need to be revisited and possible adjustments considered down the road.”
“Nearly nine years since Raise the Age was rolled out, we’ve seen both its limitations and inconsistent applications,” her statement continued. “Effective public policy necessitates a close look at how Raise the Age interacts with youth services and crime prevention strategies.”
The District Attorneys Association, which has previously advocated for discovery reform, called for public hearings and further discussions with Hochul and the Legislature to “reexamine Raise the Age with a focus on meaningful changes.”
However, many progressives argue the real issue lies in $1 billion in unused funds intended to support programs aimed at steering youth away from trouble.
Advocates from the Raise the Age Coalition warned against reverting to a time when New York was among only two states that routinely tried 16- and 17-year-olds as adults.
“’Raise the Age’ embodies the understanding that youth are still children, and prosecuting them within the adult criminal justice system fails both them and our communities,” the coalition stated.
Hochul has indicated that she may be open to adjustments in the “raise the age” policy, similar to changes made with bail and evidence laws in earlier budget discussions.
On Tuesday, she noted the possibility of introducing unexpected policy items into the budget negotiations, which could extend at least until the April 1 deadline for finalizing spending plans.
“I do not view this as a finalized document,” she cautioned.
