In New York City, youth-related offenses have seen a significant increase—over double—since the state’s contentious “age law salary increases” took effect.
A recent report from the mayor’s office indicates a drop in six of the seven major crime types across the five boroughs over the past year. However, it also highlights that there were 5,623 felony arrests involving youth during fiscal year 2025.
Moreover, crimes against young people have surged this year, reaching 5,177 compared to 2,259 in 2021, as detailed on page 554 of the report.
City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak remarked that the “age-raising” law implemented by the previous administration has played a crucial role in the rise of both perpetrators and victims among younger demographics.
“This is why we’re working to reform these laws, to ensure public safety and hold individuals accountable,” she stated. “While it’s regrettable that this legislation has contributed to increased recidivism rates among young probationers and felony arrests of youth, our administration is dedicated to educating and engaging young individuals prior to any involvement with the justice system.”
On a broader scale, the statistics present a reassuring outlook on overall crime trends in the city for 2025, featuring a 6% decrease in murders, a 17% dip in robberies, and a 9% reduction in felony assaults. Auto theft also dropped by 10%.
The report further reveals that incidents of shootings have decreased by 14% year-on-year, marking the lowest rate for August since recording began in 1993.
A comparison of last year and this year shows that transport-related arrests rose to 25,833 from 14,545, with police tripling efforts since 2021, according to the report.
Yet, the youth crime statistics tell a starkly different narrative.
The “Raise the Age” law, enacted in 2017 with the support of former Governor Andrew Cuomo and current Governor Kathy Hochul, elevated the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18, allowing young offenders to be held in juvenile rather than adult facilities.
By 2020, felony arrests among youth had escalated to 4,252, up from 2,754 in 2019, according to the mayor’s report. A report from then-Mayor Bill de Blasio noted a 54% increase in large-scale felony arrests among youth due to the gradual implementation of the age law.
While figures dropped to 2,807 in fiscal year 2021, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they surged again to 4,037 in 2022 and further to 5,623 in 2025. Arrests for juvenile murder have nearly quadrupled since 2017, growing from eight to 30 in 2024.
The mayor’s report highlighted that the NYPD is initiating new measures focusing on safety in schools and for students.
“I think we need to analyze the situation,” the mayor stated. “We’ll collaborate with the police commissioner to explore the correlation between this legislation and the recent trends.”
“Good intentions sometimes lead to unfavorable outcomes. We’ve invested in after-school initiatives and summer employment for youth; imprisonment isn’t the solution,” he added.
Additional Reports by Amanda Woods
