9 September 2018

Sentencing Young Adults – making the case for sentencing principles for young adults

Courts and sentencing, Sentencing

Open report

Could a tailored legal framework achieve better outcomes in the sentencing of young adults? This report builds on previous Howard League work to show that sentencing can have an enormous impact on the life chances of young adults. It argues that sentencing principles should explore the relationship between immaturity and blameworthiness, capacity to change, the impact of race, and care backgrounds.

Publisher: 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.