The Justice Policy Institute has published a study, “Improving Approaches to Serving Young Adults in the Justice System,” addressing the needs of the 18-24 year old population in America’s prisons – 20% of that total, compared to 10% of the total population. The study calls for more community-based and collaborative approaches, largely outside the formal justice system:

“The approach should be developmentally appropriate, individually tailored, and seek to reduce individuals’ justice system involvement and the collateral consequences that typically flow from contact with the justice system – all philosophical goals of the juvenile justice system. Convening participants also called for increased system and interagency collaboration to leverage public dollars so that young adults can get the schooling, housing, job training, and health care they need.”