The number of young adults in England and Wales given life or indeterminate prison sentences has nearly doubled over the past decade, according to a new report. In 2024, 50 offenders aged 18 to 20 received such sentences, up from 30 in 2014.
The study by the Prison Reform Trust’s Building Futures programme reveals that 6 per cent of young adults in prison are now serving life sentences, compared to just 2 per cent a decade earlier. A further 6 per cent are serving extended determinate sentences. Overall, 10,324 young adults aged 18 to 24 are currently held in prisons, accounting for 12 per cent of the prison population.
The report, based on testimony from 41 young male prisoners, highlights the profound impact of long-term sentences on mental health and development. One prisoner said: 'Being convicted at such a young age was heartbreaking – I would not come out of my room for months at a time.' Another added: 'The issue with maturing in prison is that it is harder to transition into a man and move forward.'
The report calls for a dedicated prison policy for long-term prisoners, better staff training, and improved access to education and training, including removing restrictions on higher education funding. Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust, said: 'If the state imposes such lengthy sentences on young people, it also carries a responsibility to ensure they can grow, develop and ultimately build a life beyond the prison walls.'
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'This Government inherited a prison system in crisis and we are committed to getting offenders into meaningful and purposeful activity so they can turn their backs on crime.'
