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Thursday, November 20, 1997 Published at 00:30 GMT

Don't lock up youths, says prisons inspector

It is claimed that custody can do more harm than good

Children under 18 years old should not be put in jail, the Chief Inspector of Prisons has said.

Prisons are not equipped to handle teenagers or reform them because they cannot provide the education and care that teenagers need, reports Sir David Ramsbotham.

[ image: Sir David:
Sir David: "The soft option is to lock people up and do nothing"
"Of all parts of the prison system, this is the one that needs the most attention," Sir David said.

"These are the young, impressionable people with their lives in front of them. Either we do nothing, in which case they'll continue to offend and be predators on society, or do something and hope that they mend their ways."

As of last July, there were 2,643 15 to17-year-olds in prison, an 11% increase since the start of the year.

In his report, Sir David recommends that prison system implement the following reforms:

Remove all under-18s from prison

Unify the youth justice system

Reduce the time under-18s stay in custody

Appoint a Director of Young Prisoners

Second chance at life

[ image: Rigorous activity could reform young prisoners]
Rigorous activity could reform young prisoners
The Chief Inspector says he is not going soft on young criminals. He says that startlingly high reconviction rates demonstrate that, if regimes do not address children's needs, custody can do more harm than good.

Young inmates are already benefiting from reforms like the ones Sir David is recommending.

At one prison, an extra Ł1,500 allocated this summer for each inmate under 18 has gone to sports programmes and extra classes. The Chief Inspector says this is a small price to pay for reducing youth crime.

But the prison system is already struggling to cope with the record population and limited resources. Prison officials say that the lack of funding makes progress difficult.

[ image: Many inmates share accommodation with adults]
Many inmates share accommodation with adults
"The Prison Service is being asked to do a job with inadequate resources. We would do very much better if we were better funded," said Richard Tilt, Director General of the Prison Service.

The Government will give its response to the report shortly.

BBC correspondent Jane Peel says ministers consider reducing youth crime a high priority. That means they are likely to examine the treatment of young offenders in custody and the resources allocated to prisons.

Sir David Ramsbotham on caring for youth offenders (17")
Lord Hurd, Chairman of the Prison Reform Trust: "Prisons are not a waste basket" (1'33")
Joyce Quinn, the Prisons Minister, responds to Lord Hurd (30")


	Internet Links National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders HM Prison Service Home Office The Prisons Handbook The Penal Lexicon The BBC is not responsible for the content of these internet sites.