Top New York City law enforcement officials on Monday called for changes to a state law that increased the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18 for all but the most serious offenses, arguing it’s contributed to a rise in the number of teenagers involved in gun violence.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch criticized the Raise the Age law while announcing a 208-count gang indictment tied to 12 shootings between rival crews in the Bronx since 2021. Nine of the defendants were teens, according to Clark, who said young people are more likely to carry guns because the law makes it harder to charge them as adults.
“The mentality on the street is that nothing happens to those under 18 who possess or use a gun,” she said. “This is the biggest challenge for us right now, and it’s an unintended consequence of the Raise the Age law.”…