In 1990, young adult offenders accounted for 25 percent of all offenders cautioned for or found guilty of indictable offenses in England and Wales; this group accounted for 15 percent of summary (nonvehicle) offenses. Sixty-five percent of young females and 39 percent of young males were indicted for theft and stolen goods offenses; sexual and violent crimes accounted for 14 percent of indictable offenses by young males and 10 percent by young females. There were sharp increases in the numbers of both young adults and juveniles who were cautioned or found guilty of indictable offenses in 1990; most of the increase was due to a larger rise in the number of cautions. The diversion of young offenders from prosecution is officially encouraged, but this paper notes that using cautioning as an alternative to prosecution can have a net- widening effect. In England and Wales, 18,517 young adult males and 824 young adult females were remanded into custody during the reporting period, and 14,500 young adult offenders received custodial sentences. The statistics show a significant overrepresentation of young black males in custodial institutions and sentencing disparities between areas and courts.