BROMLEY BRIEFINGS PRISON FACTFILE - Prison Reform Trust

Young people in prison (18-20 year olds)At the end of October 2007 there were9,544 young people aged 18-20 in prison inEngland and Wales, a rise of 3% on the yearbefore. At the end of October 2007 moreyoung people were in prison for the offence ofviolence against the person than any otheroffence. 154Young offender direct sentenced receptionsin Scotland increased by 5% to 2,286 in2006/07 from 2,170 in 2005/06. 155In October 2007, 67% more young peoplewere in custody serving indeterminatesentences than in October 2006. The totalnumber increased from 405 in October 2006to 678 in 2007. 156HM Chief Inspector of Prisons said in herannual report for 2005/6:“Young adultsremain a group whose needs have not beensystematically addressed over the last fiveyears, in spite of their evident needs andtheir high re-offending rates”. 157In 2005 12,644 young people were sent toprison under sentence. In the last ten yearsthe number of sentenced young adults enteringprison has increased by 14%. Over that timethe number of sentenced young womenimprisoned has more than doubled. 158A study published in November 2004 by thePrison Reform Trust based on interviewswith young people and information suppliedby Independent Monitoring Boards revealedthat whilst in custody many young adultsare frequently moved around the prisonestate causing great disruption and distress.It also showed that, in general, they experienceimpoverished regimes. 159In January 2007, 2,647 young offenders,approximately a quarter of the total, wereheld more than 50 miles from their home. 160HM Chief Inspector of Prisons has commentedthat:“these considerable distances from homecompromise the resettlement and rehabilitationof young adults”. 161Fewer than half of young adults surveyed byHM Prisons Inspectorate said that theyknew where to get help to findaccommodation, drug treatment orcontinuing education when they leftprison. 162Reconviction rates are particularly high foryoung people. 75.3% of young men releasedfrom prison in 2004, were reconvicted withintwo years of release. 163Nearly half (42%) of first time offenders areyoung adults. 164Young offenders have poor literacy andnumeracy skills. Just under a third have basicskills deficits compared to under a quarter ofthose aged 25 and over in custody. Nearlythree-quarters were excluded from school atsome stage, and 63 % were unemployed at thetime of their arrest. 165In 2004-5, 54% of those leaving youngoffender institutions had no recordededucation, training or employment place.154. Ministry of Justice, Population in Custody, England and Wales, October 2007. This figure includes some 21 year-olds not classified as part of the adultpopulation155. Scottish Executive Statistical Bulletin, Criminal Justice Series, Prison Statistics Scotland, 2006/07156. Ministry of Justice, Population in Custody, England and Wales, October 2007157. HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales, Annual Report 2005/2006, 30 January 2007, p. 39158. Home Office, Offender Management Caseload Statistics, 2005159. Solomon, E. (2004) A Lost Generation: the experiences of young people in prison, London: Prison Reform Trust160. Hansard, House of Commons written answers, 15 March 2007161. HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales, Annual Report 2005/2006, 30 January 2007, p. 39 162. Ibid.163. Home Office Statistical Bulletin, Re-offending of adults: results from the 2004 cohort164. Social Exclusion Unit (2002) Reducing re-offending by ex-prisoners, London: Social Exclusion Unit 165. Ibid.166. Hansard, House of Commons written answers, 2 October 2006www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk 19