Posted: April 11th, 2012 | by Yuval Sheer

During the last year, NYCJJ has been engaged in an effort to speak at universities, churches, and community organizations across New York State to raise awareness, and build support for raising the age of criminal responsibility in New York to 18.

As part of this effort, on Friday April 6, 2012, Judge Corriero conducted a workshop at University at Buffalo Law School which included law students, social work students, representatives from the Probation Department and the department of Social Services, as well as members of the community.

Speaking about the issue in Buffalo is of particular importance as in 2010 alone, more than 2,000 arrests of youth 16 and 17 years of age took place in Erie County (which includes Buffalo). These arrests were processed in the adult courts as New York is one of only two states in the nation that sets the age of criminal responsibility at 16, and New York also tries children as young as 13 as adults for certain crimes. Youth tried as adults are subject to potential criminalization and are statutorily precluded from receiving developmentally sensitive dispositions available under the Family Court Act.

Judge Corriero, during the presentation emphasized that as part of the implementation of raising the age of criminal responsibility in New York, it is crucial to provide the Family Court and social service providers with the resources necessary to support the potential increase in cases heard in the family court.

The Center wishes to thank Professor Susan Vivian Mangold and Professor Suzanne E. Tomkins for organizing this event and to thank all those who attended for supporting our cause.

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