25% of prisoners are aged 18-24 — and 68% reoffend

People aged 18-24 account for a quarter of all people committed to prison — and more than two thirds of them reoffend after release, according to a report.

Penal reformers said the current system is “failing too many young adults”, often making them “more, not less, likely” to reoffend.

Publishing its Turnaround Youth report at a conference today, the Irish Penal Reform Trust is calling on the Department of Justice to draw up a specific strategy for 18-24-year-olds.