Youth custody and young offenders

The Ministry of Justice has published the latest monthly statistics on the population in custody of children and young people within secure children's homes, secure training centres and young offender institutions.

They statistics show that for September 2013 the population of the secure estate for children and young people was:

• 1,249 for under 18 year olds,  an increase of 10 from the previous month and a decrease of 352 from the previous year: and
• 1,347 for the overall population of the secure estate for children and young people, including those aged 18 years old, an increase of one from the previous month and a decrease of 424 from the previous year.

To download the statistics visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-custody-data.

The Ministry of Justice has also published quarterly re-offending statistics. They show that around 75,000 juvenile offenders were cautioned, convicted or released from custody in 2011 and around 27,000 of them committed a re-offence and the proven re-offending rate for juvenile offenders released from custody in 2011 was 70.7 percent.

For further information visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/proven-re-offending-quarterly-january-to-december-2011.

They have also published Transforming Management of Young Adults in Custody, its consultation document outlines a significant change to the accommodation of young adults serving custodial sentences.

The consultation proposes accommodating young adults aged 18-20 year olds in mixed institutions as opposed to Young Offender Institution where young adults in custody are currently held.

The deadline for responding to the consultation is 19 December. To download the consultation document visit www.t2a.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/transforming-management-of-young-adults-in-custody.pdf.

In addition, the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has published a report following up on their thematic review of youth offender casework.

Key findings from the report include:

• Improvements and more consistency on out-of-court disposals such as youth cautions and better recording of details on why decisions were made;
• Concerns include no digital record of 12 percent court hearings; and
• Limited progress was found on the recommendation that all prosecutors have a basic understanding of youth court law and procedures.

To download the report visit www.cypnow.co.uk/digital_assets/YOCFU_thm_Oct13_rpt_copy.pdf.