Letter to the Editor
Jennifer March, New York City

The article  “Youth detention surges in N.Y. since law change,”  April 11, paints an incomplete picture of the state of youth justice in New York. While it’s true that there are too many young people in detention and placement facilities across the state, the assertion that the Raise the Age law has led to an increase in violent crime — and therefore more youth in juvenile facilities — is unfounded.

Since the law went into effect in 2018, it’s been a success. Statewide arrests of youth under 18 for serious and violent offenses are 60 percent lower than they were a decade ago, and the numbers are similar in Albany, where serious and violent offenses among juveniles are down 56 percent.

Nevertheless, the implementation of Raise the Age hasn’t been perfect, largely due to what the article reports: “As of February 2022, the state had distributed just $270 million of the $800 million that had been dedicated to support the change when it was enacted into law as part of the 2018 state budget.”

If we genuinely want to decrease the number of adolescents in youth prisons and improve the distribution of Raise the Age dollars, the state must establish a Youth Justice Innovation Fund. Using $50 million of the $250 million appropriation, the fund would be administered by the Division of Criminal Justice Services and enable community-based organizations to apply for and receive funding directly.

Statewide evidence demonstrates that Raise the Age has improved community safety and youth well-being. Think of how much more successful it could be if funding were efficiently distributed to the organizations best equipped to support our youth.

The writer is the executive director of Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York.

Published April 29, 2024