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St. Lawrence County assemblyman votes against raising age of criminal responsibility

Posted 2/16/17

Assemblyman Marc W. Butler, R-Newport, on Feb. 14 voted against legislation that would raise the age of which individuals may be treated as criminally responsible from 16 to 18. Butler represents …

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St. Lawrence County assemblyman votes against raising age of criminal responsibility

Posted

Assemblyman Marc W. Butler, R-Newport, on Feb. 14 voted against legislation that would raise the age of which individuals may be treated as criminally responsible from 16 to 18.

Butler represents several towns in St. Lawrence County, including Madrid and Stockholm.

Additionally, the legislation would raise the minimum age of juvenile delinquency status from 7 to 12 years old.

This would allow offenders between these ages to potentially be tried within the Family Court system.

Most states do not try 16- and 17-year olds as adults.

“Today I voted in favor of victims’ rights by rejecting the Assembly Democrats’ Raise the Age legislation,” Butler said in a prepared statement. “I think many of us understand that from time to time there are kids who make bad decisions, but when it comes to violent crimes such as rape and assault we must not forget the rights of victims who deserve justice. New York must stand with victims of crimes by protecting their ability to seek justice in the court system.”

Butler says the current system in place to seek justice in cases of teen offenders “works well.”

“The system allows flexibility of prosecutors to use other tools to rehabilitate non-violent youthful offenders, which includes the youthful offender status that can be applied to teens as old as 18. Only 5 percent of teen arrests end in criminal convictions, but these convictions are reserved for those who committed violent felonies, serious non-violent felonies, and those with histories of recidivism,” a news release from Butler’s office.

The Democrats’ legislation would allow teens who committed violent felonies to be tried within the Family Court system, which would seal criminal records.

“Additionally, Butler points to the fact that trying such offenders solely through the Family Court system limits the rights of victims. In Criminal Court, victims have the right to be informed at each step of a proceeding, especially with the final court ruling, also known as the disposition. It has been found that victims whose cases were being tried in Family Court have not been informed of when dispositions occurred; only finding out weeks later that their case had concluded. Butler believes such a gap in justice is unacceptable,” Butler’s office said.