This report focuses on young adults in Victorian prisons, and explores their particular needs, vulnerabilities and criminogenic patterns. While some of the concerns and issues discussed have application to the entire prison population, our conclusions in this paper are limited to the young adult cohort, by which we mean 18 to 24 year olds. They are based on the research presented and our grounded experience working with participants in this age group.

The paper focuses particularly on the situation in Victoria, where many of our programs operate, but most of the principles discussed are applicable nationwide.