Raise The Age Rolls Out In New York State

ALBANY – Sixteen-year-olds accused of a crime in New York State will no longer go straight to adult criminal court.
Raise the Age, the law signed by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2017 aimed to keep adolescent offenders separate from adults, rolled out Monday.
Prior to Monday, New York was one of just a few states still treating 16 and 17-year-old offenders as adults in the criminal justice system.
Among other things, the law establishes a new “Youth Part” of state supreme court, presided over by a family court judge trained to handle misdemeanor cases of 16-year-olds. Previously, those went to adult criminal court.
Although, violent felonies won’t automatically fall under the adolescent offender flag. But, 16 and 17-year-olds accused of those crimes now have certain protections.
For example, their parents must be notified of their arrest, and if they’re present during questioning, must also be read Miranda rights.
In October 2019, 17-year-olds will also be added included under the law.