The recently released report from Clinks summaries the views of criminal justice and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector professionals working in Wales and finds support the adoption of an IOM approach for working with young adults. IOM Cymru Youth to Adult Transition forms part of a consultation to establish how an all-Wales Integrated Offender Management (IOM) strategy could support young adults in the Criminal Justice System.

The consultation was initiated by the IOM Cymru Board, who identified young adults as priority group within the criminal justice system, with distinct needs. The report was written by Clinks and supported by the T2A Alliance.

Respondents to the consultation were practitioners across sectors who work with young adults in the criminal justice system. The consultations were held in the summer of 2013 and responses were gathered through attendance at three events as well as three separate online surveys. This provided two broad stands of information; an overview of young adult services, and the role of the IOM in supporting young adults.

From the consultations emerged overwhelming support for an approach recognising young adults as a distinct service user group and IOM as a means of supporting this group. The report identifies 17 recommendations as a way forward for the IOM and other stakeholders to ensure better services at this early stage of IOM development.

The full report can be read here.