Improving Responses to Young Adults
This briefing focuses on how Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) can help improve responses to young adults (18-24) and the transition to adulthood. Highlighting current good practice, it provides a checklist that PCCs can use in their police and crime plans and strategic approach development. The briefing suggests that this age group should be a priority for PCCs. Young adults are the most likely to come into contact with the police and criminal justice system, both as suspects and offenders and as victims of crime. Although they make up only 10% percent of the population, they account for roughly a third of police time and probation caseloads.
Criminal justice interventions aimed at adults often fail to prevent further offending by this group. Three-quarters of young adults leaving prison are reconvicted within two years. They also have the highest breach rates of those serving community sentences. Many young adults who come into contact with the criminal justice system have a range of needs, including poor mental health, drug and alcohol problems. Too often, they fall through the gaps between youth and adult services, which fail to take account of their variable levels of maturity. PCCs are in a unique position within the criminal justice system in being able to encourage and facilitate a local approach that bridges the divide between youth and adulthood.
Recognition has been growing around the need for a distinct approach to young adults in the criminal justice system. This briefing makes a number of recommendations based on our knowledge of what works for this group. We set out four areas for PCCs to consider as they renew their strategic approach:
- Include specific provision for young adults in local diversion and crime prevention strategies
- Work with partners to reduce young adult reoffending
- Champion improved policing of young adults
- Engage with young adults.
