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More and more teen killers — blame NY’s Raise the Age law for cultivating crime
The opinion article argues that New York’s Raise the Age law has contributed to rising violent crime among teenagers by limiting the use of adult courts for 16- and 17-year-olds. It links the policy to recent fatal shootings and says inadequate consequences may fail to deter repeat offending.
The article says juvenile gun arrests have risen 19% this year and teen violent crime is well above its level before the law took effect seven years ago. It also describes overcrowding at two youth facilities: Horizons holds 187 young people despite having 125 beds, and experienced a riot in June. The author criticises releasing some young offenders under community monitoring and calls on state lawmakers to support Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed changes to the law.
In short
- The article blames Raise the Age for worsening youth violence.
- Juvenile gun arrests are up 19% this year.
- It calls for changes to the law and youth justice system.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the article’s case argue that when serious or repeat violent offending brings limited or inconsistent consequences, some teenagers may be less deterred and communities face greater risks. They point to rising juvenile gun arrests, violence above pre-law levels, and overcrowded youth facilities as signs that the current system may not be working well enough, and say Hochul’s proposed changes could strengthen accountability and public safety.
The case against
Defenders of Raise the Age argue that treating 16- and 17-year-olds in the youth justice system can preserve rehabilitation and reduce the lasting harms of adult prosecution, while still allowing serious cases to face significant consequences. They would caution that rising arrests and facility pressures do not establish that the law caused the increase, and that expanding adult-court use may not prevent violence as effectively as targeted support, supervision, and well-resourced youth services.