Charge Those Under 18 As Juveniles, Not Adults, State Senator Says

This article has been reposted from Kings County Politics, in partnership with Patch:

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — State Sen. Jesse Hamilton wants those between age 16 and 18 who commit crimes to be charged as juvenile offenders, not adults. Hamilton's district includes Crown Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens and Prospect Heights.

New York continues to be one of two states — the other being North Carolina — that prosecutes all youth as adults when they turn 16 years of age. Statistics point out this adversely impacts people of color to a much larger degree than whites.

The change is also supported by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. An administration website calling for the state law alteration notes that,"Youth processed as adults have 26% higher likelihood of reincarceration than youth processed as juveniles."

"'Equal justice under law' is emblazoned on our United States Supreme Court Building," Hamilton wrote recently in his e-newsletter. "We have yet more work to do to bring those words to life. For far too many New Yorkers, when they encounter the justice system they do not receive equal justice."

“We know that young people are brutalized by uniformly putting them through a justice system designed for adults," Hamilton said. "We know that adolescent brains are not fully developed. And we know that the life chances of young people put through our justice system are severely impacted by this policy. That’s part of the reason 48 other states have taken a different path than New York. It is time for us to bring our justice system up to the high standard 'equal justice under law' demands."

“Time to #RaisetheAge in New York State," the state senator concluded. "I will join my Senate colleagues in efforts to pass legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility in NY to 18. Our young people deserve better.”

Pictured at top: Jesse Hamilton. Photo via Kings County Politics.