Transition to Adulthood (T2A) is a Barrow Cadbury Trust criminal justice programme and campaign making the case to policy makers, practitioners and sentencers for a distinct approach for young adults (18-25 year olds). T2A Alliance members influence and guide our work.
What does T2A do?
T2A supports research and practice to identify effective approaches for young adults throughout the criminal justice system. This change programme began formally in 2008, building an evidence base and challenging the thinking of criminal justice policy makers that all young people become adults at 18. T2A believes the reality is more complex.
Currently T2A is focused on embedding the idea of young adult maturity into the mainstream of criminal justice practice, supporting research in that area and developing good practice guidance.
The evidence we have gathered through T2A research, as well as that from government bodies and academic institutions, shows that between 18 and 25 the brain is still developing. This can present as unpredictable, risk-taking behaviour leading to involvement in the criminal justice system.
T2A doesn’t have all the answers. Building evidence is an ongoing process. The current work T2A is supporting is an integral part of that process.
How do we work?
The T2A campaign, like all of Barrow Cadbury Trust’s work, is built on collaboration and partnership. Working with criminal justice professionals, the voluntary and community sector, policy-makers and young adults themselves, T2A is building up a body of evidence and good practice guidance. Much of this evidence is based on our pathway framework which explains the different stages of the criminal justice process where intervention could make a difference.
T2A Pathway Framework
Milestones on our journey
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Prison Service Female offender Strategy recognises young adults 2021
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Sentencing Council Guidelines on Young Adults published 2019
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Code for Crown Prosecution Service published, October 2018
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MOPAC (Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime) develops young adult strategy and creates YA Hub in Newham, London, 2017 onwards
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Justice Select Committee adopts T2A evidence base and recommendations
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T2A Pathways from Crime – 10 step framework 2012