New York City has seen an alarming rise in juvenile crime since the state’s lax “Raise the Age Law” took effect, providing a startling incentive for gangs looking to exploit the Big Apple’s youth, one expert said.

The 2018 law, signed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and endorsed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, raised the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18, ultimately allowing underaged defendants to avoid being tried as adults. The law also permits defendants as old as 21 to be held in juvenile detention facilities, instead of the typical adult centers. 

However, one expert cautions the law incentivizes gang members to use juveniles to carry out serious crimes, pointing to the probability that the underaged defendant would not be tried as an adult. 

“Mayor Adams has been clear that the ‘Raise the Age’ legislation passed by the former governor has contributed significantly to both perpetrators and victims of violent crimes being younger,” a spokesperson for the mayor’s office said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

“That is why we continue to press state legislators to reform laws like these and ensure the public is safe and people are held accountable. It is unfortunate that this legislation has contributed to higher rearrest rates among youth probationers and youth arrests for felonies, but the Adams administration is committed to educating and engaging youth before they ever make contact with the justice system.” 

As a result, Adams has pledged to invest in community resources targeting gang, youth and domestic violence. However, Porcher cautions parents that their teenagers could be participating in gang activity without showing any indication of their involvement. 

“Ultimately, it’s those social constructs that the adolescent is a part of, whether they’re in school or just hanging out in the neighborhood that leads these adolescents to the nefarious behavior,” Porcher told Fox News Digital. “And in many instances, the parents may not even know that that’s what their kid is doing unless they’re alerted by police. But a lot of times this stuff doesn’t come into the house.” 

Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.