A band of public figures assembled at a junction in Sunnyside on a recent Monday to denounce a brutal attack on a 62-year-old individual by a cadre of teenagers. The officials, including Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, and state Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, called for modified legislation to hold the young culprits responsible. They congregated at the intersection of Clove Road and Howard Avenue to address the media.
Fossella depicted the elderly victim as an innocent pedestrian on a routine stroll on July 15, when he was pursued and eventually assaulted by a group of teenagers. He stressed that such a horrifying incident can happen to any vulnerable citizen and called for consequences. Lately in America, he noted, a tendency to dismiss aggressive adolescent behavior has cultivated a ‘no-consequence’ attitude towards such acts.
According to Fossella, these adolescents are engaging in gravely harmful actions that have potentially fatal results, as evidenced by the victim’s terrifying escape attempt across the busy Clove Road. While he fervently hoped for justice to be meted out to the victim, he noted the constraints imposed by the Raise the Age laws might obstruct the process.
Fossella expressed concern over the legal proceedings under the Family Court, as the judges often lack comprehensive awareness of an offender’s history. This, he explained, could mean that repeat perpetrators may be getting away with multiple offenses without any major punitive action. He further drew attention to the fact that the youth offenders’ records are usually purged if any punishment is imposed.
Meanwhile, the victim of the assault, who preferred to remain anonymous, has decided to relocate from his home of many years, due to the traumatic effects of the attack, Fossella pointed out. The incident has sparked a discussion about the effects of the current Raise the Age law in New York State.
According to Sen. Scarcella-Spanton, the legislation has had adverse implications, gravely impacting the youth instead of aiding them. She disclosed her recent work on a bill motivated by this occurrence and other instances of juvenile violence. She believes that easing off on severity in criminal cases involving youngsters will not improve the current circumstances.
Scarcella-Spanton discussed her proposed legislation, which aims at widening the scope of ‘extraordinary circumstances’. This might empower the district attorney’s office to retain and prosecute more cases effectively. The senator emphasized the importance of seriously addressing violent crimes, irrespective of the age of the perpetrators.
The proposed legislation, tagged as New York Senate Bill 8710, directly concerns the judicial power over violent cases involving adolescent offenders. It aims to allow courts to divert cases involving serious adolescent offenders away from the Family Court. This is in response to the current situation where, despite the best efforts of the victims, prosecutors rarely see these cases due to the strict application of the Raise the Age laws.
A spokesperson for Rep. Malliotakis reminded the audience that respect for elders is an important value in any cultured society. The rise of violent incidents involving young teenagers assaulting fellow citizens, particularly the elderly, is deeply unsettling. Malliotakis also pointed out that the present-day societal breakdown can have far-reaching consequences.
Both Malliotakis and Pirozzolo suggested that social media could be contributing to the increase in youth violence. They reflected that when young individuals observe adults evading punishment for their crimes, it sets a concerning precedent. The perception that they too can escape punishment for such transgressions is a significant problem.
Variety of solutions were proposed during the press meet to combat youth violence. These included increased investment in youth programs, mentorship initiatives, alongside a call for changes to the existing Raise the Age and bail reform legislation.
State Assemblyman Pirozzolo described the recent incident as a ‘disaster’. He argued that justice should be served to all crime victims, regardless of the perpetrator’s age. While legislation might help to an extent, Pirozzolo expressed skepticism on it being the ultimate solution.
Pirozzolo sees a degradation of families and the negative influence of social media as some of the fundamental issues that need addressing. He elaborated his view by explaining that the desire for fleeting internet fame has led many youngsters to perform outrageous acts. In response to these concerns, Pirozzolo called for a return to prior legislation, albeit with thoughtful exceptions for special instances.
Turning towards accountability, the Assemblyman proposed a rather radical idea – holding parents legally accountable for their underage children’s transgressions. Although he saw this as a long shot, he argued this would trigger a much-needed accountability shift. Pirozzolo alleged the current trend seems to favour a majority rule with no accountability.
Press Secretary James Clinton questioned the fervent supporters of the current Raise the Age law, asking them to imagine if their loved ones were victims of such an ordeal. He concluded by expressing skepticism that such individuals would feel that justice had truly been served.
The ‘Raise the Age’ law altered the minimum legal age for prosecution as an adult to 18 years in New York. Before this, New York was one of two states prosecuting 16-year-olds as adults. The law transfers most teen cases to the Family Court. Despite these efforts, increased youth crimes, including car thefts and gun offenses, have been recorded this year. Various preventative and restorative measures were recommended amidst a concerning examination of youth violence on Staten Island.