By Hank Russell
A last-minute decision by Governor Kathy Hochul not to include changes to the state’s “Raise The Age” law in the proposed executive budget drew the ire of local elected officials who wanted to see juveniles charged as adults for serious crimes.
Under Raise the Age, a child cannot be tried as an adult until they are 18 years old. (This went into effect on October 1, 2019). Further, misdemeanor charges for 16- and 17-year-olds are heard in Family Court, but 16- and 17-year-olds who commit misdemeanor crimes involving violations of the Vehicle and Traffic Law are tried as adults in a local criminal court.
The legislation also allows juvenile offenders who have not committed a crime in 10 years to seal up to two of their criminal convictions. Felonies, violent felonies and sex crime convictions cannot be sealed.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney called Raise The Age is “a well-intentioned law, but in practice, it has resulted in pushing the violence onto younger offenders.” He cited the 2021 deadly shooting of Cameron Rimmer-Hernandez by 14-year-old Ramon Lyons (who was convicted in 2023). Recently, the grand jury voted to indict three older alleged gang members and an associate with conspiring to order and facilitate that murder. These alleged gang members/associates were 26 to 29 years old at the time of this murder.
“Raise the Age has resulted in increased gang violence by younger and younger offenders,” Tierney said. “Gangs respond to incentives and when Raise the Age lowered penalties for younger offenders, the gangs responded by pushing younger members to commit the most egregious acts of violence.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is challenging Hochul for the governor’s seat, cited data from the Mayor’s Office for Criminal Justice, showing that the share of serious violent felony arrests involving juveniles in New York City has climbed dramatically since Raise the Age took effect — rising from 9.8% in 2018 to 13.1% in 2022, 15.6% in 2024, and surging to 23.3% in 2025. Gun violence data paints an equally alarming picture: 14% of shooting victims were under age 18 in 2025, up from 9% the previous year, and 18% of gun-violence perpetrators were minors.
“Kathy Hochul’s cashless bail and Raise The Age policies have caused crime to surge,” Blakeman said. “Violent teenagers are being shielded from real consequences, armed robberies and assaults go unpunished, and victims are ignored. New Yorkers deserve a governor who puts public safety first. I will repeal these senseless laws and protect our communities.”
Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) responded to Blakeman’s comments. ““Because of Governor Hochul’s commitment to keep our communities safe, crime is down to pre-pandemic levels and, as Bruce Blakeman says, Nassau County is the safest in the nation,” siad Lavine. “Last I saw, Nassau County is still part of the State of New York. I want to thank the governor for providing an additional $40 million for law enforcement technical innovation in Nassau County which will keep this trend heading in the same direction.”
State Senator Dean Murray (R-Patchogue) introduced a bill along with Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-Staten Island) that would preclude those under 18 years of age arrested for firearms offenses from being tried in Family Court. It has yet to pass both chambers of the state Legislature.
“[The legislation] addresses young [offenders and] gun violence because the number of teens involved in gun violence is setting records,” Murray said.
Murray said he “found it interesting” that “she was going to try to do something about gun violence,” but “then, she doesn’t include” the changes in the budget.
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to Hochul’s office and asked why the changes were not included in the budget. A Hochul spokesperson said, “Governor Hochul’s top priority is keeping New Yorkers safe. Since taking office, she has worked with the Legislature to deliver record funding to crack down on gun crimes, car thefts and repeat offenders, while further expanding the discretion of judges to set bail, and making essential changes to the discovery process to hold perpetrators accountable.”
As a result, there have been “lower crime rates across the state,” the spokesperson said, “and this administration will continue working with law enforcement and local officials to improve the criminal justice system, combat violence, and strengthen public safety across New York.”