New York’s “Raise the Age” initiative is taking effect and they city has announced that it’s taking steps that menas within two years 16 and 17 year olds will no longer be prosecuted as adults.

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the criminal justice reform bill which means that minors who commit misdemeanors will be sent to family court and felonies will be referred to a new youth court.

This year 17 year olds will still be tried as adults but in 2018 they will be prosecuted as minors.

What do you think of these reforms? Can you see a positive and a negative side? Is it all good, or all bad? Do you think it will encourage youngsters to commit more crime?