Prison not working' for young offenders

Re-offending rates among young prisoners are so high that alternatives to custody should be considered in all cases, according to a new report today.

The study (pdf), by the Howard League for Penal Reform, accuses the government of ignoring the resettlement needs of young offenders.

It points out that almost 70% of young offenders are reconvicted within two years of their release, yet they are given little help in prison, or on their release, to help them rebuild their lives.

It claims that the current lack of support means that sending young people to prison is putting the public at risk because it makes re-offending more likely.

It says: "Imprisoning young men at this critical stage in their lives can have a massively detrimental effect upon their development and their future life chances. Alternatives to custody should be sought in all possible cases."

It adds: "The criminal justice system should instead work to resolve conflict and repair harm. All must recognise that imprisonment, even for a short period, ruptures lives and the damage is often irreparable."

The report, entitled Out for Good, reveals the interim findings of a study that involved in-depth interviews with 86 men aged between 18 and 21, the majority of whom were serving sentences of less than a year.

Its author, Finola Farrant, said: "Sending these young men to prison does virtually nothing to ensure that they will live crime-free lives on release, or worse, it makes their re-offending all the more predictable."

The men were asked to say what would help them stop offending. Getting a job, a home and a girlfriend were three main issues identified.

As one 20-year-old offender put it: "If I was to stop committing crime I'd need a job, a place to live and settle down with a girl."

They also cited drugs and alcohol problems and family breakdown as barriers to reintegrating into society.

But the prisoners complained they were given little help to gain qualifications and secure housing while in prison. The study called for the prison service to recognise the needs and vulnerability of young offenders.

Commenting on the study, the chief inspector of prisons, Anne Owers, also urged the government to address the needs of young offenders.