The Coalition to Protect Raise The Age, which includes The Legal Aid Society, held a press conference and rally on the steps of City Hall today urging lawmakers to preserve New York’s Raise the Age law, streamline access to the nearly $1 billion in state funds allocated to support the law that remains unspent, and pass the Youth Justice Innovation Fund, which would create additional pathways for unspent state dollars to reach counties and community-based organizations.

In April 2017, Albany enacted historic legislation raising the age a person is automatically prosecuted as an adult in New York to 18. Before that, New York had the shameful distinction of being one of only two states in the country — along with North Carolina — to charge all 16- and 17-year-olds in adult criminal court, subjecting teenagers who were not even eligible to vote to permanent criminal records and adult prison sentences.

“Raise the Age is working exactly as intended. The data are clear, year after year: young people are not driving crime, and treating children as children makes our communities safer,” reads a statement from the coalition. “Instead of rolling back this landmark law based on misinformation, Albany must fully commit to its success by unlocking the nearly $1 billion already allocated to support youth, families, and communities.”

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, former New York City Department of Probation Deputy Commissioner for Juvenile Operations Gineen Gray, Assembly Member Latrice Walker, Council Member Althea Stevens, and Council Member Nantasha Williams also joined the coalition in support of their demands.