Justice Secretary David Lammy will announce a 25% reduction in children held in pre-trial detention and potentially scrap lifelong criminal records for under-18s as part of sweeping youth justice reforms set to be unveiled on Monday.
The white paper outlines a comprehensive overhaul of England and Wales's youth justice system, with Lammy pledging to cut the overall number of children ending up in jail through preventative measures and more proportionate responses to youth offending.
Children awaiting trial are currently held in secure children's homes, secure training centres, or young offender institutions. Critics argue pre-trial detention disrupts young people's education, mental health and social development - often for offences that may not result in custodial sentences.
The potential abolition of lifelong criminal records for under-18s marks a significant policy shift. Under existing rules, even minor youth offences appear on Disclosure and Barring Service checks, affecting employment, housing and education opportunities well into adulthood.
The reforms recognise young people's developmental stage and capacity for rehabilitation, aiming to prevent past mistakes creating permanent barriers to reintegration. However, the proposals are likely to spark debate among legal professionals and politicians over balancing youth welfare with public safety concerns.
The white paper will detail how these targets will be achieved and the specific mechanisms for implementing the changes across the youth justice system.