On April 10, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the “Raise the Age” bill, a measure that will divert 16- and 17-year old offenders out of criminal court and into the family court system statewide.
Many believe that the sweeping legislation, which raises the age of criminal responsibility, will reduce crime, recidivism and costs to the state while advancing social justice.
As part of a nationwide push for juvenile justice reform, since 2009, seven states have raised the age of adult prosecution to 18 and a handful of states are expected to follow this year. Some are even considering raising the age to 21.
Many are responding to studies showing that teen brains mature later, which, when combined with other factors, can lead to poor decisions. Research reveals that adult penalties often lead to more recidivism whereas rehabilitation efforts in the juvenile justice setting hold more promise with young minds.
Advocates for juveniles are encouraged by the trend. Currently, the adult prosecution of juveniles is practiced in the fewest states in history. As for the remaining holdouts - who have had reform efforts stall due to law and order concerns and financial worries - many feel its just a matter of time.
If your child has has been charged with a crime in Wisconsin, contact the juvenile criminal defense Law Offices of Andrew C. Ladd LLC for help today. Our Waukesha, Wisconsin juvenile defense lawyers will aggressively defend your family member against crimes such as drug charges, underage drinking or minor possession of alcohol, Wisconsin OWI, internet crimes and violent crimes including assault. Call today for a free consultation of your case at 262-542-3900.
