Red Hook Justice - Your Community. Your Court.

This past Wednesday, Chief Judge Lippman gave his annual State of the Judiciary address, “ Let Justice Be Done ,” setting an ambitious agenda , including changing how and 16 and 17 years olds are treated in the judicial system and reforming the bail process. The Red Hook Community Justice Center and the Center for Court Innovation are helping the judiciary meet those goals through some of our latest programs. The Chief Judge wants to change the way 16 and 17 year olds are treated in New York’s judicial system. New York is one of only two states in the country that prosecutes 16 and 17 year olds as adults. Every year, over 40,000 16 and 17 year olds are arrested in New York State, most for minor offenses. Studies show that 16 and 17 year olds do not have the same brain development and decision-making maturity as adults. We also know that most of these young offenders do not become adult offenders, but are at risk of being burdened with an adult criminal record for a fo...