The Criminal Justice Response to 16- and 17-Year-Old Defendants in New York, a new study from researchers at the Center for Court Innovation, documents how the justice system handles 16- and 17-year-old defendants across New York State. The report also examines the Adolescent Diversion Program, an initiative launched by New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman to improve outcomes for this population.

New York is one of only two states that define 16- and 17-year-old defendants as criminally responsible adults. This policy exposes young people to long-term consequences, such as criminal conviction, incarceration, and reduced employment prospects. The study documents that four percent of misdemeanor cases, 16 percent of nonviolent felonies, and 19 percent of violent felonies ended in a criminal conviction and a permanent criminal record. The report also examines risk factors for re-arrest, finding that male adolescents and those with multiple prior arrests are especially likely to re-offend.