The elements of the government that oversee work with young offenders are to be reorganised.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the Prison Service are to be brought together under prisons head Phil Wheatley.
Regional offender management structures will also be brought together, with a single regional manager responsible for commissioning prison and probation services.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said the changes "will drive forward joined-up offender management and deliver essential savings".
The Youth Justice Board, which is a non-departmental public body, will continue in its current form, and a spokeswoman said it would not be affected by the changes.
She said regional youth offending teams would also be largely unaffected, as they report to local authorities rather than NOMS regional managers.
Regional offender management structures will also be brought together, with a single regional manager responsible for commissioning prison and probation services.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said the changes "will drive forward joined-up offender management and deliver essential savings".
The Youth Justice Board, which is a non-departmental public body, will continue in its current form, and a spokeswoman said it would not be affected by the changes.
She said regional youth offending teams would also be largely unaffected, as they report to local authorities rather than NOMS regional managers.
