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Cuomo appoints 'Raise the Age' commission
Apr 10, 2014 6:51 am
Rick Karlin is reporting at Capitol Confidential Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has appointed a commission to provide recommendations for his “Raise the Age” initiative to increase the age at which young New Yorkers can be charged and tried as adults. Currently, that is 16 and 17 years of age, most states have a higher threshold. New York remains one of two states in the nation whose age of criminal responsibility is just 16. As a result, in 2013, more than 33,000 16- and 17-year-olds statewide had their cases handled in adult criminal court, where they are less likely to receive the services they need. Among the appointees are Janet DiFiore, Westchester County District Attorney, Elizabeth Glazer, Director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and Melanie Hartzog, Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund-New York. The Commission on Youth, Public Safety & Justice will provide its recommendations to the governor by the end of the year. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.