Youth Crime Surge Puzzles New York City Amid Overall Crime Downturn
While 2021 has seen record lows in various crime rates in New York City, a concerning increase in youth crime stands in stark contrast. This persistent issue proves resilient despite significant reductions in the more broad crime categories. Earlier in the year, Jessica Tisch, the NYPD Commissioner, revealed a troubling fact: the juvenile shooter count surged by almost 200% between 2018 and 2024, while the number of juvenile shooting victims rose by over 80%.
The brutal slaying of Angel Mendoza, a 14-year-old ninth-grader, provides a chilling insight into this escalating issue. Angel was attacked in a Bronx park by a group of at least four teens, including two minors, who are said to have cruelly beaten him, and finally, fatally stabbed him — all of it horrifically captured on video. This barbaric act of violence, coupled with other similar incidents, begs the question: why is the number of violent acts committed by juveniles increasing amid a general crime downturn in the city?
A potential explanation can be found in a law enacted in 2017, known as ‘Raise The Age’ law, signed into existence by then Governor Andrew Cuomo. This law, along with Cuomo’s decision to shut down several juvenile detention centers, significantly reduced the chances of 16-17 year olds serving substantial prison sentences for even severe crimes, as it increased the instances their cases were moved to Family Court.
A study conducted by the Manhattan Institute in 2023 indicates that by September 2022, 83% of felonies involving offenders aged 16-17 were being handled in family court. This proportion also includes 75% of non-drug-related Class A felonies, the most grave category of crimes. The introduction of this law in 2017 triggered a substantial increase in repeat juvenile offenders, as shown by findings from the New York City Criminal Justice Agency in 2021.
Despite the concerning trend of rising repeat offenses among the juvenile demographic, lawmakers show little intent to reevaluate the law. Defenders of the ‘Raise The Age’ law often reference the idea of youth as a mitigating factor. They assert that teenagers should not be held fully accountable for their actions given that their brains are not completely developed. While this argument might hold some water, it fails when considering the majority of teenagers are not engaging in lethal violence or committing serious crimes.
Statistically speaking, the youth demographic shows higher recidivism rates compared to their older counterparts, creating another layer of complexity to the issue. Furthermore, concerns arise concerning the increased recruitment of younger members by gangs due to these lenient laws. If misused, such policies might turn out to be instrumental for these gangs that motivate juveniles to commit crimes under the assurance they will not face consequences as harshly as they would have a decade ago.
In the same vein, another repercussion of the ‘Raise The Age’ law emerges. Based on data, teenagers, who were expected to benefit from the law, seem to have been adversely affected instead. The 2023 report from the Manhattan Institute revealed that the incidents of juveniles falling victim to gun-related crimes have tripled compared to five years earlier.
The defenders of this law encourage empathy towards the mental capacity of these teenagers who are often involved in violent activities. But would they be willing to let these youths, who apparently lack the mental faculties to resist violent tendencies, roam free in their own neighborhoods? This begs the controversial question: If they would not want it for their own neighborhoods, why should it be accepted in the Bronx?