Neurotic disorders

Daily living and social functioning
12.1 Introduction Men on remand were far less likely to sleep in a cell
on their own than sentenced men: only a third of
Questions relating to three aspects of social i the male remand young offenders were in a cell
functioning were asked of all survey respondents: alone compared with three fifths of the male
i sentenced sample. This is a reflection of the type of
• aspects of daily living related to social : accommodation provided in the prison
functioning, e.g. the amount of time per day establishments that cater for remand young
spent in a cell, attendance at educational offenders. Similar proportions of male sentenced
classes or work etc.
and female young offenders were held in ceils on
• evidence of disciplinary or other their own - 61% of male sentenced and 68% of
management problems : female young offenders reported sleeping in a cell
• social support: serf-perceived support, the on _eir own.
extent of social networks and external:
contacts, e.g. receipt of visits etc. More than a quarter of male remand young
offenders said they had spent 23 to 24 hours in
This chapter considers each aspect of dally living their cell on the day before the interview. However,
and social functioning in turn. theywould not necessarily have been locked in
their cells throughout this time unless they were on
12.2 Aspects of flaily living cellular confinement as a result of disciplinary
problems. Although among prisoners as a whole,
All respondents were asked about aspects of daily remand prisoners had spent more time in their
living which would have an impact on their social cells than sentenced prisoners the day before
functioning: the living arrangements under which (Singleton et al, 1998), the apparent differences
they were held, their participation in activities such among young offenders were not statistically
as work or education dames. These questions were significant. Male young offenders did, however,
based on questions used in the 1991 National report spending more time in their cells than their
Prison Survey (Dodd and Hunter, 1992). female counterparts. (Table I2. I)
12.2.I Living arrangements
12.2.2 Educationclassesand work
Respondents were asked whether they slept in a As would be expected, remand young offenders
cell, room or dormitory and, unless they slept in a were less likely to report attending education
dormitory, whether they shared it or not. They
classes or working than sentenced young offenders.
were also asked how long they has spent in their About a half of male remand young offenders
cell the previous day (including the night time) and reported attending education classes and a quarter
how long they had been locked in. In addition, they said they were currently working. Among
were asked about other activities that provide
sentenced young offenders the proportion
opportunities for social interaction: attendance at reporting these activities was markedly higher, at
education dames during the current spell in prison three quarters and two fifths respectively. These
and whether they were currently working, figures reflect the greater difficulty of providing
work or educational opportunities for remand
The factors that were most strongly associated with young offenders who may be in prison for very
whether or not respondents were in a cell alone short periods of indeterminate length. The
were essentially custodial characteristics - although differences between women and men in reported
due to the small number of female remand young participation in these activities did not reach
offenders it is not possible to separate them out. statistical significance. (Table 12.I)
PsychiatricMorbidity amongYoungOffenders in EnglandandWales 77
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