Young people turning 18 while in contact with the justice system face a steep cliff edge, leaving them at risk of harm and continued contact with the criminal justice system.

As young people transition into adulthood and move from Youth Offending Teams to
Probation, how they are supported changes significantly. Key relationships are lost,
contact levels drop, resources and support reduces, and the overall ethos switches from a focus on welfare to enforcement.

This evidence review summarises the policy context and existing evidence on young people turning 18 in the criminal justice system. The project has three thematic
focuses: custody, safeguarding young people at risk, and racial injustice.

Published in April 2023 by the Alliance for Youth Justice.