Incarceration, but no treatment, for children

Johnson, M. (2012). It's time to treat drug addicted children as adults. Guardian, 17.1.12. Mark Johnson's article expresses concerns over the situation in which drug addicted children can be sent to secure units for committing addiction fueled crimes, yet secure units do not cannot pursue a remedial detox course with there residents, but merely manage addition via methodone. Nowhere in the UK is there residential drug treatment available to under 18's.
For more information on children and young people in prisons see Bromley briefings prison factfile., 2011 from the Prison Reform Trust.

Cutting crime: the case for justice reinvestment

The House of Commons Justice Committee first report, Cutting crime: the case for justice reinvestment examines the current situation where, under successive governments, the UK prison population has risen, and the failure to address the causes of the increase, including media and public opinion, politicisation of the criminal justice system and the failure of agencies outside the criminal justice system to effectively reduce the numbers of people entering the criminal justice system. See also coverage in the Guardian January 15 2009.

Are mother and baby units the best option?

Doing time with mum. Beth Gardiner meets women bringing up theri babies in prison. Guardian 19 December.

Children and Young People in custody 2008-2009

This report was published by HM inspectorate of Prisons, Youth Justice board today. The report found an over representation of care-leavers and ethnic minorities in the custodial population, with many young people complaining that little has been done to help them avoid reoffending on release. See also comment in the Guardian, December 9.

Banks accounts help to reduce reoffending

A project which furnishes prisoners with bank accounts has been shown to reduce reoffending rates. Staff at Forest Bank private prison in Manchester worked with the Cooperative bank, enabling prisoners to open bank accounts while serving their terms. For 60%  prisoners, this was the first time they had held a bank account and participants reported increased feelings of self respect in addition to the practical benefits when finding employment or accomodation. The first report of the follow up of prisoners (2008) showed reconviction rates reduced by around 50% of the national average, and the 2009 follow up of the original group continues to show the same rate of success. See Guardian, 3 December online.

Prison Population Rises

Scottish Prison Statistics published yesterday show that the Scottish Prison population increased by 6% last year, with 75% of people completing short prison sentences going on to reoffend.