Raise the Age NY: Letter to Governor M. Cuomo

December 4, 2017

Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of the State of New York
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo:

As members of the Raise the Age NY Campaign, we once again thank you for making Raise the Age a priority last session, and for all of your commitment and efforts that led to its successful passage. We know that this long-awaited reform—if implemented correctly-- will improve the lives of thousands of youths, increase public safety for all New Yorkers, and make New York’s judicial system more fair and just for youth.

As you know, the Raise the Age NY Campaign includes over one hundred diverse organizations from across New York State, including, child advocates, service providers, faith leaders, and legal services organizations. We know that the success of this law is also important to you and your administration. Successful implementation will require that the state and all of the counties have sufficient resources, including but not limited to funding for probation and community-based services; training of all stakeholders; court staff including judges and lawyers; data-tracking systems to measure progress and success; service-rich facilities, community-based alternatives and re-entry services.

While we understand the need for a fiscally responsible state budget, we look forward to seeing these resources for the entire state in your upcoming Executive Budget and to ensuring mechanisms are in place for all counties to access these funds. We all came together to urge State leaders to reverse the long-standing wrong of prosecuting every 16 and 17-year old as an adult. We stand ready to advocate to ensure the resources necessary are allocated and maintained in the upcoming budget negotiations.

We are grateful for your commitment and partnership on raise the age legislation, and we look forward to working with you on the planning and implementation stages.

Thank you again for your leadership.

Sincerely,
Amnesty International USA
Association of Community Living, Inc.
Campaign for Youth Justice
Center for Community Alternatives
Central Synagogue
Cheektowaga Youth & Recreational Services Department
Children’s Aid
Children’s Defense Fund-New York
Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, Inc.
Commission on the Public’s Health System
Community Voices for Youth and Families
Correctional Association of New York
Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies
Every Child Matters-NY
Families Together in New York State
Fund for Modern Courts
FPWA
Good Shepherd Services
Human Services Council of New York
JCCA
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
JustLeadershipUSA
Labor-Religion Coalition of NYS
Lawyers For Children
Leake and Watts
Legal Action Center
Long Island Progressive Coalition
Martin De Porres Group Homes
National Association of Social Workers- NYC Chapter
National Association of Social Workers- NYS Chapter
New Hour for Women and Children LI
New York Association of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers
New York Civil Liberties Union
New York State American Academy of Pediatrics, District II
New York State Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health
New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
New York State Council of Churches
New York State Dispute Resolution Association
New York State Psychiatric Association
Partnership for the Public Good
Reform Jewish Voice of New York
Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy
SCO Family of Services
Spark Action
St. John’s Residence for Boys
S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc
The Black Institute
The Children's Agenda
The Children's Village
The Door - A Center of Alternatives
The Legal Aid Society
University Settlement Society of New York
Westchester Children’s Association
Women’s City Club of New York
Youth Represent