24 August 2005
 
Kids Behind Bars
25 August at 9pm on Channel 4
 
Commenting on Rex Bloomstein’s excellent film Kids Behind Bars Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust said:
 
‘This film portrays, classically without comment, children in prison. It presents a bleak picture of troubling and troubled young people– so many of whom have been the victims as well as the perpetrators of crime. It raises fundamental questions: What should be done with children who offend? What could have prevented these young people from getting into trouble in the first place? Is it too late to help them get out of the mess they are in and so prevent the next victim? Who should be entrusted with the task of working with our most damaged and damaging children?
 
The handful of children who have committed very serious crimes clearly need to be cared for securely, but this film shows that prison is a toxic environment in which to grow up.’