PRISON REFORM TRUST NEWS RELEASE

4 FEBRUARY 2003
EMBARGOED 00.01 WEDNESDAY 5 FEBRUARY 03

Speaking today in response to the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons report on HMP/YOI Ashfield, Juliet Lyon, Director of the Prison Reform Trust said:

“This utterly damning report by the Chief Inspector raises the question of why it was ever considered acceptable to place our most vulnerable and challenging children in the care of a private company with such a dismal international track record in work with young offenders.

More than anything children who offend need consistent care and guidance, far too often what they get is state sanctioned neglect and abuse. This report must act as a wake up call to review the policy of incarcerating children. Intensive supervision and surveillance, specialist fostering and small local units close to home all offer more chance of success than bleak institutional settings.”

Speaking today in response to the Youth Justice Board’s decision to withdraw sentenced offenders from HMP/YOI Ashfield, Juliet Lyon, Director of the Prison Reform Trust said:

“It is difficult to understand why children on remand, innocent until proven guilty, should be left in the hands of a private company which has failed to provide care or a safe environment for young offenders up to now.

Why has it taken three years to blow the whistle on a place which has been frightening and damaging children and harming staff ?”

Contact Juliet Lyon at PRT on 0207 251 5070 or mobile 07762 093105
             Geof Dobson at PRT on 0207 251 5070 or mobile 07788 728 016
  Enver Solomon at PRT on 0207 251 5070 or mobile 07939 221 381

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

HMP/YOI Ashfield

1. Premier Custodial Group Ltd is a subsidiary of Wackenhut Corrections Corporation Ltd, an American company. When Wackhenhut won the contract  to run Ashfield in 1999 the company had no experience of working with juveniles and had faced problems in America  and Australia where they had lost contracts to run detention facilities for young offenders.

2. HMP/YOI Ashfield has had the worst record of reported incidents of self-harm of all prisons in the juvenile estate. In 2000/2001 there were 112 out of a total of 231. In 2001/2002 there were 128 out of a total of 312. Up to end of September 2002 there had been 51 incidents out of a total of 132.

3. The annual report of the Board of Visitors (July 2001 – June 2002)  raised concerns about staffing levels, the increase in assaults and adjudications and the lack of purposeful activities and programmes.

4. HMP/YOI Ashfield has approximately 100 places designated for young offenders (18 – 21) with 300 places for juveniles (15 – 18).

Juveniles in Prison

1. On 17 January 2003, there were 2, 615 under 18 year olds in prisons in England and Wales, an increase of 16 per cent over the last year.

2. The number of 15 – 17 year olds in prison has doubled over the last ten years

3. Reconviction rates are very high for children. 84 per cent of 14 – 17 year olds discharged from prison in 1997 were reconvicted within two years

4. The majority of children in prison have been convicted of non-violent offences. Of the boys who received custodial sentences in 2000 nearly half were convicted of property crimes such as burglary and theft.

5. Many children in prison have a background of severe social exclusion.  Of those in custody of school age, over a quarter have literacy and numeracy levels of seven-year olds.  Over half of those under 18 in custody have a history of being in care or social services involvement.

6. Behavioural and mental health problems are particularly prevalent amongst children in prison. Of prisoners aged 16-20, around 85 per cent show signs of a personality disorder and 10 per cent exhibit signs of psychotic illness, for example schizophrenia.

7. Drug and alcohol abuse are major problems. Of prisoners aged 16-20, over half reported dependence on a drug in the year prior to imprisonment. Over half the female and two-thirds of the male prisoners had a hazardous drinking habit prior to entering custody.

Young people in prison (18-20 year olds)

1. On 31 January 2003, there were 10, 930 under 21 year olds in prisons in England and Wales.  The vast majority, more than 8,000, aged 18-20. (See above for number of under 18s)

2. Young adult offenders (18-20 year olds) make up 42 per cent of first time offenders.

3. Many of them serve short sentences (less than 12 months). In 2000, short term prisoners made up around 30 per cent of the young adult prisoner population but around 70 per cent of those received into prison in that year.

4.  Reconviction  rates are particularly high for young people. 72 per cent of male young adult prisoners released from prison in 1997 were reconvicted within two years of release.

5. Many young adult prisoners have a background of social exclusion. Nearly three-quarters were excluded from school at some stage. 63 per cent were unemployed at the time of their arrest.

6. Mental health problems, drug and alcohol abuse are common amongst young adult prisoners (see above for statistics relating to 16-20 year olds).

7. Young offender institutions and juvenile prisons have the highest assault rates of any prisons in England and Wales.