February 6, 2017
ALBANY, NY – Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed an executive order to “Raise the Age”. That means raise the age of those who can go to prisons with adults, from age 16 to age 18. The governor says that it is unfair for 16 and 17 year olds to be in prisons with adult criminals. Assemblyman Joe Giglio agrees with the governor that it’s a good idea to keep teens out of adult jails, but the Republican assemblyman says there are other options, such as special teen homes for younger convicts, homes that already exist.
Giglio calls “Raise the Age” the “Gang Teenage Recruitment Act”. On Saturday’s Top Story show, the assemblyman, who represents Allegany County and parts of Steuben County, predicted that gang leaders will recruit 16 and 17 year olds to commit homicide, telling the teens that they’ll be treated like youthful offenders. “So if someone tells you, that you’re going to get away with this no matter what, ‘don’t worry,’ well then, someone as an adult is using you,” Giglio explained. “Then when you do get into trouble, they’re going to walk away from you and forget about you.”
