Research and analysis

A Profile of Repeat Offending by Children and Young People in England and Wales

Using Data First linked criminal courts and offender assessment data, this report explores the characteristics, offending patterns and needs of children and young people who frequently offend.

Documents

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Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Data First[1] is a pioneering data-linking, research and academic engagement programme led by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and funded by Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK)[2]. By linking administrative datasets from across the justice system, Data First is maximising the use and impact of data that is already collected when people interact with justice services.

This report uses newly linked data from Data First, connecting criminal courts records with offender assessment data for the first time. This linkage provides a unique opportunity to explore the characteristics, offending patterns, and needs of children and young people who frequently offend, and how these differ from those who do not.


[1] /guidance/ministry-of-justice-data-first

[2]

Updates to this page

Published 20 March 2025
Last updated 26 June 2025 show all updates
  1. An additional table and image have been included within the main tables file to show a local authority breakdown of the prolific young offender cohort. This information was initially produced in response to a Freedom of Information request. There have also been minor updates to unknown records made to Table 3 and Figure 3 where the area of residence was not recorded

  2. First published.

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