UK: Resettlement provision for children and young people

21st June 2011

A new report from the Chief Inspectorate of Prisons has found that a significant number of young men released from a young offenders unit re-offended were back in custody within a month. 

The report, Resettlement provision for children and young people, conducted surveys and interviews with 41 young men and found that the majority of them were optimistic about their release. They had planned to stay with family, which they said would help them form re-offending, and engage with some form of education, training or employment (ETE). 

However the report found that two participants had to register as homeless on release and a further three went to stay in B&B accommodation. A month later it was found that only 32% of the sample had both stable accommodation and some form of ETE and that six of the 41 sample group were back in custody with one participant 'on the run'.

The Inspectorate says:

"Ensuring that young people have suitable and sustainable accommodation and ETE on release from custody is a vital first step to reduce re-offending and enable young people to successfully reintegrate into the community."

The findings from this report can be compared to similar Irish findings that were highlighted at least years Irish Youth Justice Service conference by Nicola Hughes (UCD). Ms.Hughes stated in her report "that the study indicates that developing a better understanding of factors affecting offending is needed in order to improve desistance."

Read more:

• Daily Mail: One in six young offenders are back inside within a MONTH, says chief inspector of prisons
• Read the full report here.
• To read the summary of Nicola Hughes' findings click here (go to page 12)