New York City has experienced a dramatic increase in teenage shooting victims and gun offenders since the implementation of the state’s “Raise the Age” law, according to newly released NYPD data. The law, which raised the age of criminal culpability from 16 to 18, has been tied to a 96 percent rise in teen shooting victims and a surge in gun-related offenses across the city.
Data through September 2025 shows 92 minors shot in New York City this year, a 21 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Arrests of teen shooters have also spiked, with 73 teenagers detained in 2025—up 143 percent from 30 in 2018. Despite these figures, citywide shootings have declined by 20 percent compared to 2024 and over 50 percent since 2020.
Critics argue the law fails to hold underage offenders accountable, enabling a rise in violent crime. Former NYPD supervisor Chris Hermann called for revisions, stating, “We need to somehow tweak Raise the Age so when there’s shooters involved in incidents that they don’t just get a get out of jail free card.” He emphasized the need for longer-term consequences for gun-related offenses.
Former NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kevin O’Connor highlighted specific cases, including an August shooting in Times Square where a 17-year-old injured three people and a September incident in which a 44-year-old woman was struck by gunfire allegedly fired by a teen. He also cited the case of Damien Calhoun, an 18-year-old wearing an ankle monitor for an attempted murder charge who was involved in a gunfight in East Harlem. “This case is another poster child of what’s going on,” O’Connor said. “If he pled guilty, why is he out? It’s because of Raise the Age.”
The law, enacted in two phases between 2018 and 2019, was defended by New York courts as a response to research suggesting juvenile justice systems are ineffective. However, critics describe the current system as a “complete revolving door” for young offenders.
