Conclusion 35

Whilst criminal sanctions may be appropriate in some cases, children and young people with care experience are disproportionately at risk of criminalisation. Data we have seen shows that care-experienced young people constitute nearly half of the population in youth custody, and they are ten times more likely to receive an immediate custodial sentence. 103 Challenging behaviour that would not normally lead to criminalisation outside the social care environment often results in children ending up in the criminal system due to lack of support and guidance. (Conclusion, Paragraph 178)