The Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ) has published the first of three reports examining the critical issues facing young people who turn 18 whilst in contact with the criminal justice system. In this report, the AYJ has focused on the experiences of racially minoritised young people, calling for reform to ensure that they receive appropriate support once they turn 18.
Details
The findings of the report are based on an evidence review (an expert seminar bringing together professionals from a wide range of sectors) but also interviews with Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage young people who were able to outline their own, personal experiences.
The AYJ found that young people transitioning into adulthood whilst in contact with the criminal justice system face a steep cliff edge. The way they are supported changes significantly as they move from the Youth Justice Service to the Probation Service, with the focus shifting from ‘welfare’ to ‘enforcement’ in a system that is not designed for young adults. This is often coupled with the loss of support from other services such as CAMHS, on the basis of age rather than a lack of need, leaving them at risk of harm and continued criminalisation.
The AYJ found that racially minoritised young people are disproportionately likely to experience the transition from Youth to Adult services due to racial disparities and systemic inequalities, both in the criminal justice system and in wider society. The report highlights that stereotyping, racial prejudices and unconscious biases such as adultification can shape the way in which practitioners respond to young people in the justice system. The report also raises concerns that racially minoritised young people may be deprived of vital support due a lack of cultural and age specific competencies in the justice system workforce and a system that is not set up to meet racially minoritised young people’s needs. In addition, young people’s experiences of being let down by professionals creates mistrust among racially minoritised young people which ultimately impacts engagement with services.
The AYJ has set out key principles which should be adopted to ensure that racially minoritised young people receive appropriate support as they transition into adulthood. This includes helping young people develop positive identities, being age appropriate, meeting their specific needs and being an authentic and passionate, voice for young people. The report highlights the crucial role that the Voluntary and Community Sector has, particularly the ‘by and for’ specialist organisations, in ensuring good quality support for racially minoritised young people. However, it also stresses that promoting racial justice is everyone’s responsibility.
A number of recommendations are made within the report to ensure that racially minoritised young people receive specialist, age-appropriate, culturally relevant and strength-based support to ease the transition to adulthood, address racial injustice and help build brighter futures for our young people.
Commentary
Working with children and young people is widely considered a specialism, however, the same skills are required when working with young adults. It has long been recognised that turning 18 is not a cliff edge and the vulnerability of young adults is being increasingly recognised throughout our criminal justice system. The AYJ found that there were no available statistics on the number of young people transitioning from childhood to young adulthood whilst in contact with the criminal justice system. However, between 2022 and 2023, there were approximately 560 young people being supervised on a Youth Rehabilitation Order by the Probation Service. The AYJ’s report makes clear how destabilising the transition between Youth and Adult Services can be for our young people. It stresses just how important it is that they receive specialised, appropriate and authentic support, tailored to their individual needs and how crucial it is to encouraging better futures for our young people. It cannot be said any more powerfully than this:
“[…] Don’t show me how to work in a warehouse, what the job centre is… show me that I can make something of myself and be something that I want to be.” - Young person
Written by Sabrina Neves, Solicitor at GT Stewart Solicitors