The last 15 years have seen a sharp decline in the number of young adults (18-24) going through the courts. That smaller number, however, are facing harsher outcomes.

Based on official statistics – published quarterly by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) – this report draws out trends for young adults in the criminal justice system for more serious offences (defined here as indictable or triable either way) and highlights disparities across gender and ethnicity.