YOI conditions deteriorate despite decline in inmate numbers

Conditions for children in youth prisons have got worse over the past year despite the number of those held continuing to drop, a report by the chief inspector of prisons has found.

The number of children and young people being held in custody in young offender institutions (YOIs) continued to fall during 2010-11 from 1,977 to 1,822. This has led to 710 places being decommissioned and five YOIs closing, including a unit for young women.

However, a thematic report, Children and Young People in Custody 2010-11: An Analysis of the Experiences of 15- to 18-year-olds in Prison, found that while conditions for some had improved, for the majority the experience had deteriorated.

Compared with 2009/10, young men were less positive about their treatment in reception and the facilities offered on arrival, and fewer said that they felt safe on their first night.

Although the proportion of young men who said they had ever felt unsafe had fallen, fewer felt that they could tell someone if they were being victimised or believed a member of staff would take it seriously.

The report also found that although getting a job was cited by young men (and by 52 per cent of young women) as most likely to stop them offending, fewer than half of young people said they knew who to contact to get help with finding employment.

Demographic information also indicated a changing profile of the children and young people in custody, reflecting the vulnerability of the population.

The proportion of black and minority ethnic young men, already over-represented, rose to 39 per cent from 33 per cent in 2009/10, while number of foreign national young men increased to six per cent from four per cent in 2009/10 and the number who identified as Muslim reached 16 per cent (compared with 13 per cent in 2009/10.

Fifity-three per cent of young men, an increase from 39 per cent in 2009/10, and 48 per cent of young women said it was their first time in custody – a group more likely to report feeling unsafe.

Nick Hardwick, chief inspector of prisons, said: “This report has highlighted some deterioration in children and young people’s experience of custody. Despite the falling numbers, this population has well-defined vulnerability and increasing numbers within minority groups.

“The need, therefore, to provide these young people with support during their time in custody and in preparation for release is as greater as ever.”

Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said the report reveals worsening relationships between prison staff and youngsters, and shows the isolation and fear many feel, particularly those experiencing their first time behind bars.

“That almost every single child of more than 1,000 surveyed wanted to stop offending, yet only half felt that they had done something, or something had happened to them, [in custody] that would help them to stop, is a damning indictment of our young offender institutions,” she said.

Frances Done, chair of the Youth Justice Board, said she is “very concerned” that in some areas young people’s experience of custody has deteriorated.

“We will be looking closely at the experiences reported by young people and working with all secure establishments to make sure that young people’s time in custody has positive results and that everyone working in youth justice is focused on rehabilitating young people to help them achieve a more purposeful life,” she said.