Young people, attorneys, advocates, service providers, clergy, unions, and impacted New Yorkers — representing organizations across the state — today unveiled The Coalition to Protect Raise the Age: Build Futures, Invest in Youth, a statewide alliance of 225 organizations committed to preserving New York’s landmark Raise the Age law.

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.

Since the law went into effect in 2018, Raise the Age has advanced a more just and effective approach to youth accountability. The law emphasizes rehabilitation, education, and community-based alternatives that give many young people the opportunity to change course while promoting lasting public safety. Decades of data show that treating children as adults in the criminal legal system does not reduce crime or violence.

The Coalition is calling on lawmakers to reject any effort during the upcoming legislative session to roll back Raise the Age and instead ensure the law’s full implementation by releasing nearly $1 billion in unspent state funds. These dollars were promised in order to build the community-based programs, counseling, mentoring and continuum of services for youth that make accountability meaningful and lasting.

“We cannot allow New York to slide backward,” said Dawne Mitchell, Chief Attorney of the Juvenile Rights Practice at The Legal Aid Society. “Raise the Age has protected thousands of young people from the lifelong consequences of being tried as adults while making our communities safer by utilizing effective responses and focusing on rehabilitation and opportunity.”

“This coalition stands united to defend those hard-won gains and to ensure that every young person in New York has the chance to build a better future.”