A discussion paper published to coincide with a one-day conference on youth justice at Croke Park suggests establishing a system similar to the Garda youth diversion scheme for young adults aged 18–24 who offend.

Such a system would provide an alternative to prosecution for minor offences, where it could be determined that a person’s entry into the wider criminal justice system and particularly prison could result in worse outcomes for the individual and society as a whole in the longer term.

James Browne, minister of state at the Department of Justice, said: “Research tells us that young adults, not unlike adolescents, can be particularly vulnerable to peer pressure, difficult personal or socioeconomic factors including substance misuse, and the impact of childhood trauma.

“On top of that the scientific evidence tells us the human brain and maturity continue to develop beyond adolescence and into your mid-twenties.

“It’s important that we consider the supports and interventions needed for young people as they move into adulthood, as personal circumstances do not just change over night when you turn 18.

“We want to explore whether a comparatively more gentle approach, that focuses less on imprisonment and more on rehabilitation and restorative justice, could offer improved outcomes for all and reduce offending in this age group.”

He added: “As a government, we are deeply committed to reducing reoffending and improving community safety.

“There is a lot of work going on in this space, with the bottom line being that there needs to be a whole of government approach to holistically tackling issues that, while they manifest themselves in criminal behaviour, are not just criminal justice issues — I’m talking about mental health issues, trauma, addiction, access to employment and educational opportunities.

“The reality is that young people, under the age of 25, account for the highest percentage of offenders, the biggest cohort in the overall prison population, and are statistically the most likely to reoffend. Evidence tells us this is the cohort that is also one of the most vulnerable to causative influences.

“We need targeted interventions at an early age to prevent lifelong cycles of offending which are detrimental for the quality of life for individuals and for their communities. That is why the youth justice strategy is so important, and one of my key focuses as minister.”