One of the most notorious criminals in New York City this year has been arrested 24 times in less than two years, despite being just 14 years old. Despite his frequent run-ins with the law, he remains free to roam the streets.
Another young troublemaker, aged 12, has been arrested six times but continues to be out and about after going through a state juvenile justice system that struggles due to lenient laws and limited resources.
NYPD Chief of Crime Control Strategies Michael Lipetri stated, “We are arresting juveniles at a higher rate than ever before. Some juveniles are committing multiple robberies and getting off with minimal consequences under the Family Court statutes.”
He added, “If they are arrested with a gun, a significant portion of them will be involved in a shooting incident in some way. This year alone, there have been 15 juveniles murdered by gun violence.”
The “Raise the Age” law in New York and controversial bail reform statutes have led to a rise in youth criminals who evade serious consequences and end up in an overwhelmed juvenile system lacking the means to keep them detained.
The city’s two juvenile holding facilities are now overcrowded, and strict laws prevent law enforcement from accessing criminal records or providing help to young offenders.
Lipetri noted that 12% of gun arrests this year involve suspects under 18, compared to 7% in 2018 when the Raise the Age law was implemented. The number of juvenile gun arrests has also increased significantly.
Cases examined by The Post reveal a cycle of young offenders moving in and out of overcrowded juvenile facilities with little consequence.
For example, a 14-year-old with nearly two dozen arrests, mostly for robbery and theft-related charges, continues to evade serious punishment despite his criminal history.
Another young suspect, aged 12, was recently arrested for gun possession in the Bronx, adding to his previous arrests for assault and reckless endangerment.
Both juveniles had their cases heard in family court and were released without bail to their parents’ custody.
There are other cases of young offenders with multiple arrests, including a 15-year-old charged four times and a 17-year-old with nine arrests, including armed robberies.
Even young members of the notorious Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua, such as those in the “Diablos de la 42” crew, are causing trouble in the city.
One teen from the gang was arrested multiple times this year before finally being detained after an eleventh arrest for robbery.
The city’s juvenile facilities, Horizon Juvenile Center and Crossroads Juvenile Center, are struggling to accommodate the increase in older and more violent teens due to the Raise the Age law.
In a recent report, the city Department of Investigation revealed a significant rise in the resident population and murder charges among juvenile offenders.
However, critics argue that the “Raise the Age” law fails to deter criminal behavior in children and protect victims.
In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul defended her administration’s approach to law enforcement in an email to The Post.
“Governor Hochul’s top priority is to keep New Yorkers safe, which is why she has worked with the legislature to deliver record funding to crack down on gun crimes and car thefts, repeat offenders, and further expand the types of cases where judges have the discretion to set bail.
“Our administration will continue working with law enforcement and local officials to improve the criminal justice system, combat violence, and strengthen public safety across New York,” the email said.
But a law enforcement source griped that something has to change — starting in Albany.
“We need a top-to-bottom review of all the stakeholders to see what we can do to save these kids,” the source said. “It’s not about incarceration. It’s about saving these kids and getting them on the right track.”
Additional reporting by Carl Campanile
