How are young adults treated in the magistrates’ courts? How, if at all, is their maturity considered and taken into account by the court? This Courtwatch/Transform Justice report seeks to answer these questions, based on testimony from 82 courtwatchers, volunteer members of the public who observed London magistrates’ courts for six months in the second half of 2023.

This report sheds light on what happens to the youngest people to appear in adult magistrates’ courts, those who are 18-25 years old. Children under 18 are dealt with in a specialist youth court but there are no special courts for young adults. The report makes a strong case for adopting a distinct approach for this age group, as, in the words of one defence lawyer quoted in the report, a young adult has an opportunity “to restart his life.”