The notion that young adult offenders in the prison system should be treated differently to adults dates back to the 19th century.
In 1895, at the same time as recommending the abolition of forced labour techniques such as cranks and tread wheels in the prison system, a Home Office-commissioned report concluded that young people should be kept apart from older convicts.
But in recent years, there has been an increasing trend for placing 18- to 20-year-olds in establishments that are "dual-designated" as both a young offender institution (YOI) and an adult prison.
Currently, about half of the 6,272 18 to 20 prison population are held in these dual role institutions – with the remainder held in six specialist YOIs for the age category. But under controversial proposals unveiled earlier this month, the government is considering scrapping young adult YOIs altogether, doing away with any remaining distinction between 18 to 20s and adults.
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