Some Crimes Are Just Too Vicious
Recently, a group of bloodthirsty teens allegedly committed a heinous crime by stabbing, pistol-whipping, and beating 14-year-old Angel Mendoza to death. However, despite New York’s controversial “Raise the Age” law, which raised the age of adult criminal responsibility from 16 to 18, experts believe that the law won’t provide any benefits to the young defendants in this case.
Mark Bederow, a defense lawyer and former prosecutor, stated that when it comes to violent crimes like murder, the defendants will still face serious consequences in court, regardless of their age under the law.
Two of the alleged killers, Andrew Ansah and Jordan Williams, both 18 years old, will be tried in Manhattan criminal court. On the other hand, two younger defendants, aged 15 and 16, will likely be sent to the “Youth Part” of Manhattan criminal court, which offers specialized judges and additional social services for young defendants.
Despite their young age, the juveniles may not benefit from lighter sentencing guidelines due to the severity of the charges against them. Supporters of the law argue that it helps young criminals receive resources to prevent them from becoming repeat offenders.
Leandra Feliz, the mother of another victim who was killed in 2018, believes that the law only benefits gang members and calls for a new bill where all individuals involved in a crime face the same charges.
