Youth justice timeline
5 December 2014
This timeline sets out a brief history of youth justice in England and Wales from the first attempts to separate young offenders from adults in the criminal justice system a little over 220 years ago. Although not intentionally focused on custodial provision, many of the significant events concern attempts to reform, replace or divert children from various types of institutions. The recognition of a need for resettlement support after custody is also a recurring theme – from the embryonic youth justice system to the present day.