BASW’s submission to an inquiry by the Justice Committee on the treatment of young adult offenders in the criminal justice system

BASW welcomes the opportunity to make this submission to the inquiry by the Justice Committee on the treatment of young adult offenders in the youth justice system on behalf of BASW (British Association of Social Workers).

We are of the view that wherever possible, young adults should be supervised within the community and not within the secure estate to minimise the risk of self-harm and suicide. As we know, the secure estate operates two very different systems for young offenders and adults offenders and therefore the transition into the adult system can be extremely difficult for young people in terms of meeting their multiple and complex needs.