ALBANY- State Senator Rob Rolison who represents constituents in Philipstown and Putnam Valley in addition to a large section of Dutchess County wants the state’s ‘Raise the Age Law’ to be tightened giving magistrates additional authority to transfer repeat youth offenders into adult courts.
The senator has contacted Gov. Kathy Hochul urging her to include such a change in her upcoming executive budget.
The legislation was first enacted in 2019 increasing the age of adult criminal prosecution to 18, with most cases involving younger teens automatically handled in Family Court. Proponents believe the legislation focuses on rehabilitation while avoiding long-term consequences of an adult criminal record.
On Friday Rolison said the current system leaves judges with a “limited flexibility

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