Raise the Age-NY Campaign Response to the State Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Adopted Budget

Released April 2, 2018

For Immediate Release: April 2, 2018

Contact:  Elysia Murphy, emurphy@cccnewyork.org , (212) 673-1800 x18

The Raise the Age – New York Campaign applauds the $100 million investment in Raise the Age; however, we are deeply disappointed that the State’s newly adopted budget does not provide any financial support to New York City to implement the new law to raise the age of criminal responsibility. We additionally appreciate that Close to Home was reauthorized, but express deep concern that all state support for New York City’s juvenile justice placement system has been eliminated. In short, this state budget eliminates nearly all state support for both 16- and 17-year-olds and younger youth in New York City’s juvenile justice system.

While we appreciate the $100 million investment for Raise the Age expense reimbursement to counties outside New York City, approximately 60% of the impacted youth will be NYC residents, who are New Yorkers too. Under the current construct, there is also no guarantee that all counties outside New York City will be reimbursed for Raise the Age expenses.

Furthermore, we are disappointed that the budget failed to include the legislation needed to expedite the closure of Ella McQueen, a state-operated juvenile justice intake and assessment facility located in Brooklyn which only serves youth from outside the five boroughs. Limited alternatives render this capacity as critical to New York City’s ability meet its statutory obligation to move all 16- and 17-year-old youth off of Rikers Island by October 2018.

While we are disappointed with the budget outcome, we remain committed to ensuring that all counties implement Raise the Age legislation in a manner that improves outcomes for youth and enhances public safety.  We will continue to advocate for the resources all counties, including New York City, need to implement the full continuum of high quality services to raise the age, such as probation, community-based programming, detention, placement and training.