The Justice Committee has published written evidence submitted by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies as part of its inquiry into children and young adults in the secure estate.
The inquiry is examining the suitability of the secure estate for children and young people, including conditions in custody, access to education and support, and how effectively the system supports rehabilitation and transition into adulthood. It is also considering whether the adult custodial estate is appropriate for young adults aged 18–25.
Our submission, provided in March 2026, has now been formally accepted and published on the Committee’s website. It draws on recent research into how the criminal justice system is processing young adults.
Our evidence highlights a system that is shrinking in scale but becoming more punitive in impact. While the number of 18–24-year-olds prosecuted has fallen sharply since 2010, those who remain are more likely to receive custodial sentences and to serve longer terms. Average custodial sentence lengths have increased by more than 65 per cent over this period.
Our submission also points to the growing role of remand in shaping young adults’ experience of custody. A rising proportion of those appearing at Crown Court are being held on remand, despite many not going on to receive a custodial sentence, raising concerns about proportionality and the disruptive impact of short periods in custody.
Persistent ethnic disproportionality is another key theme. Our evidence indicates that disparities identified in the Lammy Review have not narrowed, with black young adults remaining overrepresented. At the same time, worsening gaps in ethnicity data limit the system’s ability to monitor these inequalities.
Our submission also highlights concerns about the treatment of young women, particularly the high proportion held on remand who do not ultimately receive custodial sentences. This raises questions about whether remand decisions are being driven by factors beyond offence seriousness.
The Committee's findings are expected to inform future policy on youth and young adult justice.
