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In previous centuries young offenders had been treated the same as adult offenders. However, this attitude began to change in the 20th century. Young offenders were given different trials through special youth courts, and this continues today.

Young people do not go to adult prisons. Borstals and Young Offender Institutions were established in 1902 to deal with young people.

Since 1909, people below the age of 18 years old have been treated differently to adults, and the youth justice system has developed separately from the adult criminal justice system. This evolved alongside a greater understanding of the development of the brain through neuroscientific and psychological research, and clinical practice in psychiatry and psychology.

Attitudes towards the age of criminal responsibility have also changed. In 1908, an age of criminal responsibility was introduced for the first time at seven years old. This age was raised to eight years old, then ten years old, and then 14 years old in the mid-20th century. By 2017, the age of criminal responsibility was 10 years old.