Campaigns

The Work Continues

Since Raise the Age passed in 2017, advocates are focused on various campaigns for youth justice in New York State. These campaigns are dedicated to building equitable and transformative systems that prioritize community care, youth investment, and restorative practices. Through coalition-driven advocacy, legislative action, and grassroots organizing, we strive to address systemic inequities, dismantle punitive structures, and uplift community voices. From funding youth innovation programs to passing impactful legislation, our campaigns focus on creating meaningful, lasting change for young people and communities across the state. Together, we’re shaping a safer, more just New York for all.

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  Right to Remain Silent | Youth Interrogation Bill

  This bill that requires youth under 18 have the opportunity to consult with counsel prior to police interrogation. Millions of children under the age of 18 have face-to-face contact with police in any given year.

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  Solutions Not Suspensions

  Solutions Not Suspensions seeks to address the harmful overreliance on exclusionary discipline by requiring that suspensions be used only as a measure of last resort. Instead, the bill promotes proactive, developmentally appropriate interventions and supports that allow students to learn from their mistakes, remain accountable, and receive necessary assistance while staying engaged in the classroom.

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  Youth Justice and Opportunity Act

  We believe that learning from mistakes is an integral part of growing into adulthood. But the legal system does not operate under our belief, punishing adolescents and young adults with harsh sentences that can mean years in prison and blemish their records for a lifetime. Join our campaign to right this wrong and change New York State’s legal system to ensure that we all can grow up in a place that gives us opportunities to become our best selves.

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