Recommendation 145

Looking forward, the Transition to Adulthood Alliance (T2A) told us about a range of potential innovative practices, including: Specialised courts. They argued that “young adult specific courts” could deliver “specific arrangements” for young people “without legislative change”. They told us that “young adult cases could be heard by judges with experience of dealing with children who could receive specific training on dealing with young adults”. In that context, Pre-Sentence Reports would “focus on maturity in relation to the context of the offence”. Using such a model could allow for a “problem-solving court model” underpinned by “ongoing sentencer engagement and the principles of ‘procedural fairness’”. More flexibility in sentencing. T2A told us that “greater discretion within the existing sentencing framework” could allow sentencers to consider how to “support the development of a positive identity” within young adults. This could include looking at the “mitigating factor” of age and maturity within sentencing guidelines, or the introduction of “overarching sentencing principles for young adults”, as already exists for children. Greater access to primary care. T2A recommended that young people could be given facilitated “access to high-quality, sustained drug, alcohol and mental health treatment” in their communities, “as well as support for needs related to neurodivergence”. 277