In Ireland, once a person reaches 18 years, they are no longer treated as a child but become immediately answerable to the laws and regulations that govern the adult population regardless of their level of maturity or vulnerability.
The consequences of this are clear: young adults are over-represented in the prison system; recidivism rates are high; and the underlying causes of offending behaviour among this group are ignored.
Several factors place young adults more at risk of becoming involved in offending behaviour and make the prison system an inappropriate and counterproductive means of dealing with young adults. The evidence also shows that the right interventions at the right points of time can successfully lead to a reduction in the offending rate among young adults.
Turnaround Youth is an IPRT campaign which makes the clear and evidence-informed case for the differential treatment of young adults in the criminal justice system.
As with all IPRT campaigns, Turnaround Youth is grounded in solid research and evidence in what works to reduce crime and improve life outcomes, towards increasing community safety.
It is in all of our interests that we develop the right supports and interventions for young adults in contact with the criminal justice system to ensure they go on to lead crime-free lives, fulfill their potential and participate fully and positively in their communities. Supporting young adults in a positive way at the right time is an opportunity that we cannot afford to miss.
1st June 2016
IPRT welcomes the report launched yesterday (31st May 2016) by the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice calling for reform of the treatment of young adults in the criminal justice system.
26th February 2016
Prisons are failing to meet the distinct needs of young adult women (aged 18-24) and they should be treated differently to older women in custody, according to new research published by the Transition to Adulthood Alliance (T2A).
20th October 2015
A report entitled “Changing Prisons, Saving Lives Report of the Independent Review into Self-inflicted Deaths in Custody of 18-24 year olds” published in July 2015 examines in detail the lives of 87 young people (four children and 83 young adults aged from 18 to 24) who died between April 2007 and December 2013 in the UK.
2nd July 2015
Beyond Youth Custody Programme (UK) has released a new report which exemplifies how re-offending rates remain high due to lack of support for helping young people get their lives back on track.
1st June 2015
The Howard League for Penal Reform has published a new report entitled 'You can't put a number on it' which examines the different stages of the criminal justice process from a youth's perspective.
12th May 2015
IPRT launched our Turnaround Youth Project and Report on Tuesday 12th May 2015 in the Irish Film Institute, Dublin 2.
12th May 2015
This IPRT report presents the case for the differential treatment of young adults aged 18-24 who come in contact with the criminal justice system, and is grounded in emerging evidence, best practice, and informed by input from young people with experience of the issues.
4th March 2015
A new report commissioned by T2A finds that European justice systems have embraced the need for a distinct approach to young adults at all stages of the criminal justice.
11th December 2013
UK youth organisations, The Transition to Adulthood Alliance (T2A) and Young Minds, have issued a new report on the lack of provision of mental health services to young people at risk of or engaging in offending behaviour.
5th June 2012
The T2A Alliance has issued a report identifying ten stages within the criminal justice process which could provide a more effective and rigorous approach for young people, between the ages of 16-24, in their transition to adulthood.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.