Cormac O'Keeffe: How do we save children from a life of crime?

Ahead of the publication of a new youth justice strategy, Security Correspondent Cormac O’Keeffe looks at a number of innovative projects, including those aimed at the most chaotic of young offenders, that have been evaluated as part of the process. If it were not for the programmes, the young people say they would either be in prison, or dead

Figures show that young adults, aged 18-24, are disproportionately represented in the prison population. File picture. 

Finding ways to prevent children from getting sucked into serious criminality and gangs is a key part of efforts to deal with crime.

But it's an endeavour that receives far less public and political attention – and financial investment - than measures to deal with existing criminals and gangs.