In New York, Governor Cuomo has taken bold actions to modernize the criminal justice system and ensure that it treats everyone fairly.
After persistent efforts by the Governor for years, in April 2017, New York finally righted a long standing injustice by raising the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18 years of age. This reform aligned New York with 48 other states and will ensure that youth receive the evidence-based treatment they need to lead productive lives.
The Governor has also spearheaded significant criminal justice reforms, including: strengthening domestic violence and human trafficking laws; requiring video recordings of custodial interrogations for serious offenses; enabling the use of photo identifications made by witnesses at trial; providing indigent legal services statewide; investing in alternatives to incarceration; supplying incarcerated individuals with greater educational opportunities; implementing solitary confinement reforms; creating the Community Re-Entry and Reintegration Council; and granting over 100 acts of clemency to juveniles.
Furthermore, since Governor Cuomo took office, New York has closed 24 adult and juvenile detention facilities - more than in any other period in state history - and the State's prison population has declined by nearly 10,000, achieving savings of $162 million per year. This has coincided with significant decreases in reported crime. In 2017, reported crime reached an all-time low since statewide reporting began in 1975.