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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what response he has made to recent criticism made by the Chief Inspector of Prisons of young offenders institutions; [140275] (2) when he was first informed of the conditions at the young offenders institutions criticised by the Chief Inspector of Prisons. [140272] Mr. Boateng: As set out in a protocol between Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons and the Director General of the Prison Service, the Home Secretary receives draft inspection reports in advance of publication. At regular bilateral meetings with Sir David Ramsbotham, both the Home Secretary and myself are kept informed of emerging findings from inspections of individual establishments, including young offenders institutions. As far as under-18s in young offenders institutions are concerned, we have transformed the system as it applies to them. This Government recognised that reforms had to be made to the youth justice system, not least to the level and standard of care within the secure estate. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 established the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales as a non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office. The Board's purpose is to monitor the operation of the youth justice system and to ensure the delivery of the appropriate standard of care. The Prison Service's key response to past criticisms of how it has dealt with young people placed within its custody has been to create a new, distinct estate for 15 to 17-year-old boys, comprising juvenile units in young offenders institutions{1}. This change has enabled us to transform the facilities and regimes for this group of offenders. Overall, £51 million has been invested in this development. For the first time, the vast majority of under-18s will be held in either dedicated under-18 establishments, or in dedicated under-18 living units within other establishments. The new regimes will be based upon providing a "full, purposeful and active day"; rigorous assessment of each individual's health, social, educational and vocational needs; formal and specific planning and provision of education and training to meet these needs; regular reviews of each individual's plans and inter-agency co-operation and support. In relation to those aged 18-20 years, we are considering carefully how this group should be treated in custody as part of our proposals to reform sentencing for this age group. The Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill, which will abolish the sentence of detention in a young offenders institution (DYOI), provides an opportunity to look at the regime needs of a wider range of young offenders. We recognise that they do have different needs, and our work on regime provision for young adult offenders, not only the 18-20s, will concentrate on moving them more efficiently from custody to work. We have given a commitment that we will not implement the abolition of the sentence of DYOI until we have prepared a Prison Service Order to prison governors covering young adult offenders. We shall do that in consultation with interested bodies. {1} Ashfield; Brinsford; Castington; Feltham; Hollesley Bay; Huntercombe; Lancaster Farms; Onley; Portland; Stoke Heath; Thorn Cross; Warrington; and Wetherby.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

357 c351-2W; 140275;140272

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Administration of justice Finance Inspections HM Inspectorate of Prisons Training Young offenders Reform Prison accommodation Youth Justice Board Young offender institutions Detention and training orders

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk