HM Inspectorate of Prisons has given a strong critique of the practice of ‘mixing’ of young adults in older adult prisons, in its Annual Report 2014-5. Commenting on the growing trend to hold young adults in prisons that have no distinct approach for the age group, Nick Hardwick and colleagues noted that:

“In prisons that had integrated adults and young adults, outcomes for the young adults were generally worse, and many prisons continued to have no strategy to manage this distinct group, whose lack of maturity was sometimes manifest in poor behaviour and thinking skills. The numbers of young adults now integrated with adults had increased, but levels of violence, use of force and segregation had grown among young adults as there was often no strategy to manage this distinct group.” (p.47)

This trend was also criticised in the recent Review by Lord Harris, which analysed a sudden rise in the number of deaths of young adults in prison.  

The HMIP report also noted that:

“NOMS data showed that the number of young adult men (aged between 18 and 20) held in custody at 31 December 2014 was 5,030, continuing the downward trend since June 2004. This continued reduction of young adults in custody was welcome. However, as we reported in 2013–14, those who remained in custody were some of the most vulnerable, troubled young adults with complex needs.”

A reduction in purposeful activity hours also particularly affected young adults:

“Young adults continued to have the least time out of cell. In our survey, only 6% said they had over 10 hours out of cell on a weekday, and 36% that they had less than two hours. We found around one-third locked up during our roll checks.”