Massachusetts Eyes Law That Has Fueled New York’s Gang Problems

Massachusetts is again mulling a "Raise the Age" law aimed at keeping young adults out of the adult court system. Progressive Massachusetts is calling on state lawmakers to back "An Act to Promote Public Safety and Better Outcomes for Young Adults."

Progressive Massachusetts recently testified on behalf of the proposed legislation before a hearing of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.

"A decade ago, Massachusetts raised the age of juvenile court to keep 17-year-olds out of the adult system," the group stated, arguing that doing so would "reduce recidivism."

"Juvenile crime has declined, and Massachusetts has seen faster declines in violent and property crime rates than the national average," it said.

On its website, PM argued, "It's time to build on that success by raising the age to 21, as this bill would do."

Massachusetts Eyes Law That Has Fueled New York's Gang Problems

"A focus on rehabilitation would give youth a better chance to grow up and contribute to their community and, by doing so, would help reduce intergenerational poverty," according to PM Policy Director Jonathan Cohn.

Critics Point to New York’s Juvenile Crime Spike

However, Fox News reported that under a "Raise the Age" law adopted in New York in 2018, New York City has seen "an alarming rise" in juvenile crime by "providing a startling incentive for gangs looking to exploit the Big Apple's youth."

New York's law raised the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18, "ultimately allowing underaged defendants to avoid being tried as adults," according to Fox News.

"The law also permits defendants as old as 21 to be held in juvenile detention facilities instead of the typical adult centers," it reported.

An expert told Fox the law "incentivizes gang members to use juveniles to carry out serious crimes," with the probability that they would not be tried as adults.