New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed into law legislation that rules out the nonhomicide arrest and prosecution of children under 12, raising the long-allowed minimum age of 7 in the state and bringing praise from advocates such as The Legal Aid Society of New York that say the previous law had disproportionately effected various minority groups.

“For decades, our young clients—the overwhelming majority of whom come from communities of color—have suffered significant trauma from these draconian practices, including lifelong harm,” said Dawne Mitchell, Legal Aid’s attorney-in-charge of its juvenile rights practice, of the previous age minimum, in a statement made after the legislation was signed.