Falling Through the Gaps sets out the policy context and key findings of young women’s experiences as they turn 18 and move from the youth to adult justice system, as well as experiencing changes in other kinds of provision, including mental health support, accommodation, reduced safeguarding responses and leaving care.

My experiences as both a practitioner and a researcher provide insight and understanding of the representational and structural barriers that affect young Black women and girls before and during transition through the justice system…

Many children in care do not come into conflict with the law, and do well despite serious failings in our systems. Whilst over 60% of children are looked after in England principally due to ‘abuse or neglect’, just 1% of children enter care specifically because of their own behaviour, despite popular perceptions continuing to link care experience with trouble…

Girls in the criminal justice system face a cliff edge in support as they turn 18 as many services change or drop off all at once. An afterthought in provision for women and young adults in the criminal justice system, young women are falling through the gaps and left vulnerable at a critical time in their lives.

The importance of planning in helping girls to transition effectively from supervision by a youth offending service (YOS) to the National Probation Service (NPS) when a girl reaches 18 years of age, cannot be underestimated. Seldom is a girl with a YOS for such as short period that such planning cannot be achieved…

AYJ comments on the report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities and summarises our recent work to address racial injustice in the youth justice system.

Millie Hall, Communications Assistant at the Alliance for Youth Justice, speaks to Andy Peaden, Director at The Skill Mill - one of AYJ’s newest members!

Find out what we've been up to in the month of March!

As her final week with us draws to a close, Amania Scott-Samuels, our Policy and Engagement Assistant, shares reflections on some of the things she has learned in her time at the AYJ.

Get to know our Board Member - Lesley Tregear of the Association of Youth Offending Team Managers.

Get to know one of our newest Board Members - Hannah Couchman, Barrister at Rights of Women.

A coalition of criminal justice and race equality organisations have written to the Prime Minster warning that the government’s plans for policing and sentencing will further entrench racial inequality in the criminal justice system.

AYJ responds to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill, introduced to the House of Commons on 9th March 2021 and due to have its second reading on 15th and 16th March 2021.

Get to know one of our newest Board Members, Gavin McKenna, Founder of Reach Every Generation.

Get to know the Deputy Chair of the AYJ - Gess Aird, Director of KINETIC.

Get to know the Chair of the AYJ - Hannah Smithson!

The AYJ is one of 80 organisations that have joined the End Child Poverty campaign and signed the letter calling for children and child poverty to be put at the heart of the Spring Budget.

Find out what we've been up to in the month of February!

Do you know any 14-20 year olds who want to have their say on youth justice? Our Young Advocates are looking to hold one-to-one interviews with 14 - 20 year olds who have personal experience of the youth justice system as part of their peer research to influence positive change in youth justice.

AYJ Comments on Rob Butler MP’s Ten Minute Rule Bill that would change the law so someone who turns 18 between allegedly committing an offence and appearing in court would have their hearing and sentencing within the youth justice system.