Raising the Age: A Call to Action for Youth Programming
The Importance of Raise the Age (RTA) Law
Raise the Age (RTA), a state law, was designed to reduce the number of situations in which youth can be prosecuted—and treated—as adults in criminal courts by ensuring that low-level offenses and even some felonies are handled in Family Court, where rehabilitation, not incarceration, is the primary focus.
The Need for Increased Programming Opportunities
RTA was designed to protect youths in New York from long and unjust criminal sentences, and it has been doing that; however, it has not done enough for our youth. As advocates and public defenders, we have seen some positive effects of the RTA law on the youth we represent, but the law has not changed the frequently negative narratives we encounter. Instead, the criminal legal system continues to dehumanize and criminalize Black and brown youth, portraying them in unjust, damaging, and racially discriminatory ways that unfairly represent them and remove hope and rehabilitation from the discussion.
The Devastating Consequences of Harmful Narratives
These harmful narratives can have devastating consequences for Black and brown youth and their families, including excessive incarceration with no disposition of probation, and restrictions from the kinds of social service programs that can improve their health, safety, and well-being.
Increasing Programming Opportunities
For the RTA law to be truly effective, we must recognize and acknowledge the humanity of Black and brown youth and end the harmful, dehumanizing narratives of these youth populations in marginalized communities. At the same time, it is vital that we increase programming opportunities for youth and make them meaningful options in Youth Parts, a special court created after the RTA law was passed.
The Bronx Needs More Youth Programs
The Bronx needs more youth programs and community organizations, specifically programs that have comprehensive and wrap-around services that support youths navigating the legal system. We must interact with youths in the community to learn from them what programs and community services they would like to have access to. This is one way we can invite young people to be a part of the solution instead of constantly viewing them as a part of the problem.
The Importance of Incentives
Indeed, in our experiences, programs that offer incentives such as stipend, paid internship, scholarships, mentorship, credible messenger, SYEP (Summer Youth Employment Program), paid GED program, and job training and placement are more successful with maintaining youths’ participation and program completion. Research suggests that incentives can motivate children and teens to become interested in activities that they might not have been interested in initially, and that incentives can also motivate them to continue their involvement.
Conclusion
We must become a city that adopts a “Rehabilitation, Not Incarceration” perspective, especially for one of our most vulnerable populations, youths and adolescents, and begin to work towards increasing programming opportunities for youth. New York must embrace the fact that young people are our future and move away from a system of punishment and incarceration and toward a system of support, empathy, and rehabilitation for all.
FAQs
Q: What is the Raise the Age (RTA) law?
A: The RTA law is a state law that reduces the number of situations in which youth can be prosecuted—and treated—as adults in criminal courts.
Q: What are the goals of the RTA law?
A: The goals of the RTA law are to protect youths in New York from long and unjust criminal sentences and to ensure that low-level offenses and even some felonies are handled in Family Court, where rehabilitation, not incarceration, is the primary focus.
Q: What are the consequences of harmful narratives about Black and brown youth?
A: Harmful narratives about Black and brown youth can have devastating consequences, including excessive incarceration with no disposition of probation, and restrictions from the kinds of social service programs that can improve their health, safety, and well-being.
Q: What can be done to increase programming opportunities for youth?
A: We must recognize and acknowledge the humanity of Black and brown youth and end the harmful, dehumanizing narratives of these youth populations in marginalized communities. We must also increase programming opportunities for youth and make them meaningful options in Youth Parts, a special court created after the RTA law was passed.
