The Alliance for Youth Justice
@theayj.bsky.social
The Alliance for Youth Justice brings together over 75 organisations to drive change in youth justice for the benefit of children, young people, and society.
Pinned
Exploited to exploiter? Preventing the unjust criminalisation of victims of child criminal exploitation in the transition to adulthood — AYJ, Alliance for Youth Justice
Our latest briefing draws from an evidence review ; a consultation session bringing together professionals from the youth and adult criminal justice sector, voluntary and community sector, legal pr...
www.ayj.org.uk
Our new briefing looks at what happens when exploited children turn 18. Safeguarding often ends, but exploitation continues, risking criminalisation.
With a new CCE offence in the Crime & Policing Bill, safeguards are vital to protect young adults.
www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
With a new CCE offence in the Crime & Policing Bill, safeguards are vital to protect young adults.
www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
During today's Sentencing Bill debate, Lord Timpson said the government will review youth sentencing, something we have long called for. This represents a vital opportunity to ensure custody is only used as a last resort for children.
Our full statement: www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
Our full statement: www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
AYJ Comment: Review of child sentencing must be bold to protect children from the harms of imprisonment — AYJ, Alliance for Youth Justice
This AYJ comment piece welcomes the government’s announcement of a dedicated sentencing review for children and calls for the government to take meaningful steps towards meeting children’s distinct ne...
www.ayj.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
During today's Sentencing Bill debate, Lord Timpson said the government will review youth sentencing, something we have long called for. This represents a vital opportunity to ensure custody is only used as a last resort for children.
Our full statement: www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
Our full statement: www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
Delighted to be at @zahidmubarektrust.bsky.social's 'Race in Prisons' conference today, and hear Prisons Minister JamesTimpson acknowledge the stark race inequality in the youth justice system, and the need for ambitious action to address it.
October 28, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Delighted to be at @zahidmubarektrust.bsky.social's 'Race in Prisons' conference today, and hear Prisons Minister JamesTimpson acknowledge the stark race inequality in the youth justice system, and the need for ambitious action to address it.
Reposted by The Alliance for Youth Justice
After hundreds of FairChecks supporters wrote to Lord Chancellor David Lammy calling for fairer criminal records checks, we received a response from Lord Timpson.
🔗Read the full letter here - and join the movement, if you haven't already! fairchecks.org.uk/lord-timpson...
🔗Read the full letter here - and join the movement, if you haven't already! fairchecks.org.uk/lord-timpson...
October 22, 2025 at 8:59 AM
After hundreds of FairChecks supporters wrote to Lord Chancellor David Lammy calling for fairer criminal records checks, we received a response from Lord Timpson.
🔗Read the full letter here - and join the movement, if you haven't already! fairchecks.org.uk/lord-timpson...
🔗Read the full letter here - and join the movement, if you haven't already! fairchecks.org.uk/lord-timpson...
Our new briefing looks at what happens when exploited children turn 18. Safeguarding often ends, but exploitation continues, risking criminalisation.
With a new CCE offence in the Crime & Policing Bill, safeguards are vital to protect young adults.
www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
With a new CCE offence in the Crime & Policing Bill, safeguards are vital to protect young adults.
www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
Exploited to exploiter? Preventing the unjust criminalisation of victims of child criminal exploitation in the transition to adulthood — AYJ, Alliance for Youth Justice
Our latest briefing draws from an evidence review ; a consultation session bringing together professionals from the youth and adult criminal justice sector, voluntary and community sector, legal pr...
www.ayj.org.uk
October 8, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Our new briefing looks at what happens when exploited children turn 18. Safeguarding often ends, but exploitation continues, risking criminalisation.
With a new CCE offence in the Crime & Policing Bill, safeguards are vital to protect young adults.
www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
With a new CCE offence in the Crime & Policing Bill, safeguards are vital to protect young adults.
www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
Today’s HMI Prisons report shows how YOIs are failing to build trust between children and staff.
Custody must only ever be a last resort, and when used, must prioritise children's wellbeing. It’s time to close YOIs & invest in Secure Children’s Homes.
Comment piece: www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
Custody must only ever be a last resort, and when used, must prioritise children's wellbeing. It’s time to close YOIs & invest in Secure Children’s Homes.
Comment piece: www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
AYJ Comment: Broken trust in YOIs compromising children’s safety and wellbeing — AYJ, Alliance for Youth Justice
AYJ comment on HMI Prisons’ thematic report Building trust, calls for the closure of YOIs highlighting Secure Children’s Homes provide the best environment for building relationships that support chil...
www.ayj.org.uk
June 10, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Today’s HMI Prisons report shows how YOIs are failing to build trust between children and staff.
Custody must only ever be a last resort, and when used, must prioritise children's wellbeing. It’s time to close YOIs & invest in Secure Children’s Homes.
Comment piece: www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
Custody must only ever be a last resort, and when used, must prioritise children's wellbeing. It’s time to close YOIs & invest in Secure Children’s Homes.
Comment piece: www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
Our CEO, Jess Mullen, featured on C5 News discussing youth custody.
There wasn’t space for everything we shared — but here’s the key point:
The MoJ must commit to closing YOIs & STCs, and set out a long-term vision where custody is a last resort for children.
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qMb...
There wasn’t space for everything we shared — but here’s the key point:
The MoJ must commit to closing YOIs & STCs, and set out a long-term vision where custody is a last resort for children.
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qMb...
Former inmate at four young offender institutions tells 5 News about life inside UK prisons
YouTube video by 5 News
www.youtube.com
May 15, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Our CEO, Jess Mullen, featured on C5 News discussing youth custody.
There wasn’t space for everything we shared — but here’s the key point:
The MoJ must commit to closing YOIs & STCs, and set out a long-term vision where custody is a last resort for children.
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qMb...
There wasn’t space for everything we shared — but here’s the key point:
The MoJ must commit to closing YOIs & STCs, and set out a long-term vision where custody is a last resort for children.
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qMb...
NEW: The View — reflections and updates from our CEO Jess Mullen.
It’s been a busy start to 2025:
• Joint statement opposing PAVA in the children’s secure estate
• Members’ meeting with Sir Nic Dakin MP
• Published 'Adultifying Youth Custody'
And more to come.
🔗 www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
It’s been a busy start to 2025:
• Joint statement opposing PAVA in the children’s secure estate
• Members’ meeting with Sir Nic Dakin MP
• Published 'Adultifying Youth Custody'
And more to come.
🔗 www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
May 13, 2025 at 8:31 AM
NEW: The View — reflections and updates from our CEO Jess Mullen.
It’s been a busy start to 2025:
• Joint statement opposing PAVA in the children’s secure estate
• Members’ meeting with Sir Nic Dakin MP
• Published 'Adultifying Youth Custody'
And more to come.
🔗 www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
It’s been a busy start to 2025:
• Joint statement opposing PAVA in the children’s secure estate
• Members’ meeting with Sir Nic Dakin MP
• Published 'Adultifying Youth Custody'
And more to come.
🔗 www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
The decision to arm YOI staff with PAVA spray is dangerous, unjustified, and risks deepening disparities already in the system. 37 orgs agree: the answer is not more force—it’s more support. Custody must be a last resort.
Read the full statement here:
🔗 www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
Read the full statement here:
🔗 www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
Youth justice experts condemn government decision to introduce PAVA spray in children’s prisons — AYJ, Alliance for Youth Justice
The Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ), along with 37 other organisations and individuals working in youth justice, have joined forces to condemn the government’s decision to introduce PAVA spray for us...
www.ayj.org.uk
April 24, 2025 at 12:11 PM
The decision to arm YOI staff with PAVA spray is dangerous, unjustified, and risks deepening disparities already in the system. 37 orgs agree: the answer is not more force—it’s more support. Custody must be a last resort.
Read the full statement here:
🔗 www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
Read the full statement here:
🔗 www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...
We had a productive members' meeting with the Minister for Youth Justice @nicdakinmp.bsky.social yesterday.
Thank you to everybody who attended and brought their questions!
Thank you to everybody who attended and brought their questions!
February 7, 2025 at 12:30 PM
We had a productive members' meeting with the Minister for Youth Justice @nicdakinmp.bsky.social yesterday.
Thank you to everybody who attended and brought their questions!
Thank you to everybody who attended and brought their questions!