Joseph Scholes was just 16 years old and only nine days into his prison sentence when he took his own life at Stoke Heath Young Offender Institution (YOI) in Shropshire. 

Not only had he experienced domestic violence and alleged male rape at the hands of a member of his father’s family, but he was also a vulnerable young boy, suffering from mental health problems including self-harming.  Before he was sentenced to the maximum term possible for his age and crime after playing a minor role in a street robbery to which he pleaded guilty – Joseph attempted suicide.

Despite recommendations from a Youth Offending Team that he should be given a community sentence or failing that a term in a Local Authority Secure Children's Home or, at worst, a Secure Training Centre, Joseph was placed in Stoke Heath YOI. 

Nine days later, Joseph hanged himself having torn out his own fingernails. He was found with the word "mum" scratched onto his leg, which he had done to himself prior to sentencing.

Community Care’s Back on Track campaign is calling for a reduction in the use of custody particularly in cases such as that of Joseph where children are assessed as vulnerable. With young people like these it is essential that community alternatives are used, otherwise tragedies like the death of Joseph and so many others like him, will continue to happen.