Working with young adults in contact with the criminal justice system - A review of the evidence
Why read this evidence review?
In recent decades, policymakers have become increasingly aware that our legal definition, which treats all people aged 18 years or older as adults, does not reflect the neurological process of maturation. Policymakers across all parts of the criminal justice system have recognised this, although changes in practice are variable at best. There is now a considerable body of evidence on the maturation process and best practice in working with young adults (typically defined as those aged between 18 and 25 years old) in contact with the criminal justice system.
In this evidence review, Gemma Buckland, Transition to Adulthood Alliance (T2A), looks at:
• What we understand about the development of the brain in young adulthood
• The implications for young adults involved in criminal behaviour
• The impact of trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences on the maturation process
• The “age-crime curve” and the evidence about growing out of crime
• Implications for best practice working with young adults.
An online evidence base for the voluntary sector working in the criminal justice system
This article forms part of a series from Clinks, created to develop a far-reaching and accessible evidence base covering the most common types of activity undertaken within the criminal justice system. There are two main aims of this online series:
- To increase the extent to which the voluntary sector bases its services on the available evidence base
- To encourage commissioners to award contracts to organisations delivering an evidence-based approach.
Each article has been written by a leading academic with particular expertise on the topic in question. The topics are selected by Clinks’ members as areas of priority interest. Clinks intends to build a comprehensive directory of the best evidence available across a wide range of criminal justice topics. The online evidence base is co-ordinated by Russell Webster on behalf of Clinks.