The Transition to Adulthood (T2A) Alliance has called for all short-term prison sentences for young adults convicted of non-violent offences to be abolished.
The call is one of 10 recommendations outlined in the T2A Alliance’s report Young Adult Manifesto.
The report found that thousands of vulnerable young adults with mental health problems and learning difficulties, drug and alcohol addictions, and backgrounds in homelessness and care, are being funnelled unnecessarily into the criminal justice system.
It adds that the vast majority of these young adults could be diverted into mainstream support services in the community before entering the criminal justice system.
Dominic Grieve, shadow justice secretary, said: "Many of the proposals being recommended by T2A are in fact things that I would endorse.
"We need to show that alternatives to custody work. Restorative justice appears to be very effective."
The T2A Alliance, convened by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, is a national campaigning body that includes the 12 major research and campaigning organisations dealing with the issues of young adults and the criminal justice system.
Members include the Prince’s Trust, The Young Foundation, The Howard League for Penal Reform and the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies.
Deputy chair of the T2A Alliance Shan Nicholas said: "It is clear that the current system is failing young adults and as a result failing society.
"As many of us with adolescents of our own know, young people do not suddenly become mature and fully responsible adults at the age of 18."
To view the article on Children and Young People Now's website, visit: http://www.cypnow.co.uk/news/ByDiscipline/Youth-Justice/971209/Tory-MP-backs-call-overhaul-justice-young-adults/