Parker says “Raise The Age” New York State

Brooklyn, New York (2-14-17) - Yesterday, State Senator Kevin Parker and the Senate Democratic Conference urged the Republican and Independent Democratic Conference Coalition to advance real and meaningful legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility in New York State. “Prosecuting all youth as adults when they turn 16 years old is an unreasonable and counterproductive practice,” stated Senator Parker.

The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 4121 sponsored since 2012 by Senator Velmanette Montgomery, wouldRaise The Age for youth offenders from 16 to 18, and move adolescent cases from Criminal Court to Family Court where there are more age appropriate resources available for minors.  “I am proud to be a co-sponsor of Senator Montgomery’s vital piece of legislation that not only protects youth in communities of color who are hyper-policed and disproportionately arrested at higher rates, but also begins to reverse the discriminatory and ineffective practice that plagues these same communities.  This money could be better spent on our schools, roads, or creating opportunities for struggling families in our State,” concluded the Brooklyn lawmaker. 

New York State is one of only two states that still prosecute children who are 16 and 17-year-olds as adults.  To learn more about Raise the Age legislation (S4121), visit https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/S4121.

About State Senator Kevin Parker

Senator Kevin S. Parker, a lifelong Brooklyn resident, is intimately familiar with the needs of his ethnically diverse Brooklyn community that consists of 318,000 residents in the Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, and Park Slope sections of Brooklyn. He is the Ranking Democratic Member of the Senate Committees on Energy and Telecommunications, and Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. He serves on the Senate Committees on Banks, Higher Education, Rules, Insurance, Finance, and Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation. Senator Parker is the Assistant Democratic Leader for Intergovernmental Affairs for the Senate Democratic Conference, and Chair of the Democratic Task Force on New Americans.

 For more information on Senator Parker, please visit www.nysenate.gov/senators/kevin-s-parker

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