New York City juvenile felony cases surge 37% in 7 years_1

According to recent data from the NYPD, there has been a significant surge in serious crime charges among minors in New York City over the past seven years, particularly in cases involving murder, robbery, and assault. In 2023, the total number of felony arrests or charges for individuals under 18 reached 4,858, marking a 37% increase from 3,543 cases in 2017.

Among various crime types, felony assault cases rose by 28%, while robbery cases surged by 52%. The number of murder charges against juveniles escalated from just 10 in 2017 to 36 in 2023. Additionally, the number of young victims has also remarkably increased, showing a 54% rise since 2017.

This trend reflects an overall uptick in crime rates citywide. Despite juvenile crime accounting for only 3.8% of all criminal offenses in 2023—similar to the proportion in 2017—law enforcement officials are concerned that the rise in serious offenses committed by minors could indicate a potential for even more severe violent incidents in the future.

As we move into 2024, there remains a notable increase in both robbery and felony assault cases. As of the first of the month, there have been 969 arrests for felony assault and 2,019 for robbery, representing a 17% increase compared to the same time last year.

This crime spike has been particularly evident in the post-pandemic landscape and aligns with national trends. In 2017, New York State passed the “Raise the Age Law,” which altered the way cases involving 16 and 17-year-old defendants are managed, transferring most cases from adult courts to family courts or professional judges with social service supports.

Police officials believe that the “Raise the Age” law is one of the primary factors contributing to the surge in juvenile crime, as it complicates prosecutors’ and law enforcement’s ability to investigate and compile the criminal backgrounds of minors, especially those cases that are handled in family court and subsequently sealed. This has resulted in some young individuals with violent histories being released after arrests.