Supporting young adults in the criminal justice system
Young adults (aged 18-24) constitute less than 10% of the population, but make up more than a third of those commencing a community order or suspended sentence order, a third of the probation service’s caseload and almost a third of those sentenced to prison each year. Yet young adults are the most likely age group to desist and ‘grow out of crime’, and the wrong intervention at this time can slow desistance and extend the period that a young adult is involved in the criminal justice system. These facts demonstrate the importance of recognising the distinct needs and circumstance of young adults in developing effective sentencing.
The T2A Alliance is a coalition of 12 of the leading criminal justice, health and youth organisations, convened by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, which promotes ‘the need for a distinct and radically different approach to young adults in the criminal justice system; an approach that is proportionate to their maturity and responsive to their specific needs’.
T2A projects have been established, running since 2009, which are testing different approaches to improving services for young adults in the criminal justice system. Three main T2A pilots are delivering different community interventions all tailored to the needs of individual young adults, with the aim of reducing both the risk of reoffending and social exclusion. As a whole, the T2A programme of work (which encompasses research, policy development and practical experience) makes a strong case for significant reform.
