“The ‘Raise the Age’ legislation that slowed ongoing state budget negotiations has sparked the ire of prosecutors throughout the state.
“To be included in the 2018 fiscal year state budget, which was agreed to Friday night, is legislation that would raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18, meaning 16- and 17-year-olds would no longer be charged with crimes as adults. The proposal has been backed by Assembly Democrats and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, but Senate Republicans have been wary about such reforms over safety and victim rights concerns.”