9 January 2019

Sentencing Principles for Young Adults

Courts and sentencing, Sentencing, Young adults

Open report

This document sets out the principles that ought to be applied to young adults, typically aged 18 to 25, sentenced for any offence, in line with developments in case law, science and social studies.


Publisher: The Howard League for Penal Reform

April 2026
Joint Enterprise: A view over time

The report looks at two decades of data on joint enterprise, finding a disproportionate impact on young adults and persistent racial disparities.

September 2025
From exploited to exploiter?

This report looks at how to prevent the unjust criminalisation of victims of child criminal exploitation in the transition to adulthood.

Criminal Justice, young adults
Smaller but tougher: How the criminal justice system is processing young adults

This Centre for Crime and Justice Studies report looks at harsher outcomes experienced by young adults in the criminal justice system over time.