NEW REPORT EXPOSES HARSH REALITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCES IN PRISON
-Government criticised for condemning young people to a life of crime-

A major new report published today criticises the government for neglecting young people in custody highlighting that inadequate rehabilitation services and the frequent movement of young adults around the prison estate is leading to nearly three quarters (71%) being reconvicted within two years of release.  The report says that the Government’s failure to act is in danger of condemning these young people to a ‘life of crime’.

A Lost Generation, published by Community Care magazine and the Prison Reform Trust (PRT), and supported by the Monument Trust, calls the government to account for failing to uphold its 2001 manifesto pledge to improve the standard of custodial accommodation and offending behaviour programmes for 18-20 year old offenders, the peak age for offending.

The report reveals that many young prisoners spend up to 20 hours locked in shared cells designed only for one person, forcing them to use the toilet in front of their cellmate and eat their meals in the same cramped, unhygienic conditions. Over-crowding in prisons is leading to the frequent movement of young people from one jail to another, sometimes over great distances. This causes distress and instability as well as disruption to educational and training courses vital for young people’s rehabilitation. Feltham YOI in West London, for example, reports that their prisoners have been transferred to institutions as far away as Northumberland. 

Family ties are consequently being broken – yet the Home Office has recognised that family support prevents re-offending.  Two thirds of young people surveyed said that being moved to another prison had made it more difficult to keep in touch with their families.

The report which draws on findings from interviews with young adults and detailed information from Independent Monitoring Boards, the independent watchdogs appointed by the Home Secretary to monitor prison conditions, also found that: 

* There is a lack of investment, which means that very few programmes are tailored to the young person’s specific needs.  Currently only six establishments holding young people provide an average of 30 hours of purposeful activity each week, meaning most young prisoners are spending long hours locked in their cells with nothing to do

* The majority of young people are sentenced to less than six months in custody. The short prison sentence can result in loss of accommodation, employment and family ties.

* Despite pockets of good practice, young people are not being adequately supported to finding housing and either employment, education or training on release.
 
The report supports the aims of Community Care’s Back on Track campaign, which takes the Government to task by highlighting the failures of the current prison system and calls for improved conditions to prevent the growing epidemic of suicide and self-harm, whilst urging the Government to conduct public inquiries into the death of every child or young person held in prison.

Community Care magazine and PRT are calling on the Government to address the shortcomings in the system.  A Lost Generation recommends developing effective community penalties for 18-20 year olds, strengthening court diversion and liaison for the mentally ill and creating smaller custodial units for those comparatively few young people who need to be detained which:

* Are safe, close to home and have an emphasis on continuity of care
* Are in the community with close links to statutory and voluntary services
* Include resettlement plans, age-appropriate regimes and the active involvement of young people

The report also calls for a complete review of provision, proper planning, a substantive increase in resources and the appointment of a director for the young adult estate.

Mark Ivory, Managing Editor of Community Care magazine said:

“Once again the Government is going against its manifesto by failing to address the needs of young people caught up in a youth justice system in crisis. Young people are continuing to be thrown into an adult prison environment, which is merely sucking them further into a life of crime. 

“The Government’s current ‘lock them up’ policy is clearly not working with the majority of young people re-offending within two years of release.  A new approach is vitally needed to help get these young people back on track.”

Enver Solomon, Senior Policy Officer at the Prison Reform Trust and author of the report said:

“Young adults in prison should be a high priority for government. They are a prolific offending group who have a strong likelihood of becoming long term adult offenders. Their time in custody is critical if they are to be turned away from a life of crime. Yet this report has shown that they have been so neglected they have effectively become a lost generation within the prison system. It is not surprising that nearly three quarters of young adults are reconvicted within two years of release from jail.’

Juliet Lyon, Director of the Prison Reform Trust, added:

‘Instead of cutting crime, the Government’s broken promise is a sure way to turn young offenders into old lags. 18-20 year olds are still growing up. College has a strong influence on many teenagers, on others prison will leave a lasting mark.’