Resettlement provision for children and young ... - Ministry of Justice

2. Background to the report
Children and young people in custody
2.1 During the period in which the fieldwork for this research took place, the population of children
and young people (aged 15–18 years) in YOI places commissioned by the YJB was about
1,600–1,700 5 . The custodial population is transient, with a regular throughput of young people
entering and leaving custody. In 2009, there were 4,014 receptions into YOIs and 5,859
discharges 6 . In 2009–10 92% of children and young people (aged 10–17) who were sentenced
to custody received a Detention and Training Order (DTO) 7 . The average length of time spent
in custody by young people serving DTOs was 109 days; for those serving longer or
indeterminate sentences the average was 349 days 8 .
2.2 Ministry of Justice research from a cohort of young people released from custody in 2008
found that nearly three-quarters reoffended within a year of release, despite reoffending rates
having fallen by 24.8% since 2000, from 151.4 to 113.9 offences per 100 offenders 9 . In
addition, research has estimated that although persistent offenders make up just 4% of all
young offenders, they are responsible for committing a third of all youth crime 10 .
Resettlement
2.3 Resettlement is one of HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) four tests of a healthy prison. HMIP
expects 11 that establishments demonstrate a commitment to resettlement that ensures children
and young people are well prepared for release into the community. The YJB resettlement
framework sets out seven key areas (pathways) for effective resettlement of young people 12 .
These are:
case management and transitions
accommodation
education, training and employment (ETE)
health
substance misuse
families
finance, benefits and debt.
2.4 This report focuses on two of the pathways – accommodation and ETE – and also examines
case management in relation to planning for these two key areas. HMIP expects that planning
for a young person’s release should begin on their arrival at an establishment and should
involve the young person and other relevant people. All young people should have a training
plan which is a central part of resettlement planning and is based on their individual needs,
including targets while in custody and after they are released 13 . The National Standards 14 and
the YJB’s ‘Case Management Guidance’ 15 provide information about which processes should
take place and who has responsibility for them.
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