Young people in transition in the criminal justice system

The ‘Young People in Transition in the Criminal Justice System’ project is a three-year project, funded by Barrow Cadbury Trust, examining the experiences of children and young people turning 18 while in contact with the justice system, exploring issues spanning the youth and adult criminal justice systems and wider support systems. The project will develop understanding and recommendations for policy and practice by viewing critical issues which have their roots in the youth justice system and culminate into young adulthood from a transitional perspective. 

By engaging directly with children and young people, front-line practitioners and other experts, we aim to: 

  • Build a strong and credible evidence base about the needs of young people from front-line expertise, lived experience and existing research; 

  • Influence government policy & strategies to take account young people in transition; 

  • Enable the development of effective practice through evidence-informed policy; 

  • Reach wider audiences with media, campaigning and communications activity, shaping the narrative around young people in transition; 

  • Empower young people as advocates to safely share their experiences and use their voices to make change. 

There are three priority thematic focuses for the project:  

  • Racial injustice - exploring how to disrupt the cycle of cumulative discrimination, what support is needed at the point of transition and the role of the specialist voluntary sector.  

  • Safeguarding young people at risk - considering transitional safeguarding, with a particular focus on criminal exploitation, and including the experiences of care-experienced young people.  

  • Custody – considering transition from the youth to adult secure estate, including increasing sentence lengths, and delays in criminal justice processes. 

Advisory Group

The project is guided by an Advisory Group of experts who inform, monitor and steer the project, giving strategic direction and oversight. This includes: 

Carlene Firmin, University of Durham
David Graham, Care Leavers’ Association 
Dez Holmes, Research in Practice 
Gess Aird, Kinetic Youth  
Heather Abbey, Barrow Cadbury Trust 
Iryna Pona, The Children’s Society 
Jahnine Davis, Listen Up 
Laura Cooper, Just for Kids Law 
Lisa Lloyd, Probation service 
Lisa Short, HM Prisons Service 
Dr Laura Janes, Lawyer 
Marie Franklin, Howard League for Penal Reform 
Mike Rees and Diz Minnit, Association of YOT Managers 
Paula Williams and Karis Oram, YJB 
Rose Dowling, Leaders Unlocked 

 

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