Custodial places for under-18s

The Youth Justice Board has announced that the number of custodial places for under-18s is to be reduced by more than 350.

The decision follows a significant reduction in the numbers of children and young people being placed in youth custody. 

Over the next few months, the Youth Justice Board will withdraw fully from all three remaining girls' under-18 Young Offender Institution units, which will mean a reduction of 41 custodial places - In April 2013 these three units only held eight girls.

It will also be reducing the number of commissioned places at Hindley under-18 YOI, Greater Manchester, by 192, and Wetherby under-18 YOI, West Yorkshire, by 120, which both house young men.

For further information visit www.justice.gov.uk/news/press-releases/yjb/yjb-reduces-number-of-commissioned-places-in-youth-custody.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice has announced a nationwide network of 70 resettlement prisons.

The reforms will mean all offenders leaving custody receive through the gate supervision and support and that the vast majority of offenders are released from prisons in, or close to, the area in which they will live.

The Ministry also states that it has been scoping how young adults (18-20 years) are managed and accommodated in custody.

For further information visit www.gov.uk/government/news/70-resettlement-prisons-announced-for-england-and-wales.