Legislative responsibility

Never underestimate the capacity of the New York State Legislature to make hash of a straightforward reform proposal, and potentially scramble the entire state budget in the process. A simple fix to New York criminal law, supported by Gov. Cuomo in this year’s budget, is long overdue: Bring New York in line with 48 other states and raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18, moving juveniles from criminal court and jail to Family Court for almost all crimes.

As is, 16- and 17-year-olds are prosecuted, convicted and incarcerated as adults, a practice that is as immoral as it is needlessly expensive and counterproductive in fighting crime. Cuomo wants to treat those kids as kids, except in the fraction of cases when they are accused and convicted of violent felonies. Common sense.

Never content to leave well enough alone, the Democratic-controlled Assembly would push more offenses into the non-violent category — gun crimes, for example — than the governor outlined.

The Republican-controlled Senate, squeamish about looking soft on crime, looks content to do nothing — ignoring the fact that both New Jersey and Connecticut have raised the age in recent years and seen drops in youth recidivism follow.

As they dicker with lives in the balance, the socalled adults in Albany reveal themselves to be juveniles. Grow up, people, and raise the age.