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The research conducted by NOP found that almost nine out of 10 people thought there should be a greater use of community punishments for children who offend. Sixty per cent believed it was wrong to send young people to prison for non-violent crimes.
Mark Ivory, acting editor of Community Care magazine said the survey revealed a crisis in public confidence in the government’s policy. “The government’s crass solution to youth offending seems to be ‘lock them all up’”.
“This is obviously not working since despite an increasing number of young offenders being placed in custody, the problem is getting worse not better,” he added.
Community Care is campaigning for a dramatic reduction in the number of young people incarcerated and for children to be given community sentences instead.
The research, carried out as part of our ‘Back on Track’ campaign, found that almost three out of four people think that young people with mental health problems should not be sent to prison. Almost 60 per cent think that prison sentences increase the risk of self-harm and suicide among young people.
Ivory highlighted that nine out of 10 young people in custody have mental health problems. “It is outrageous that these vulnerable young people are kept in unacceptable conditions in young offender institutions”.
The research also highlights concerns that deaths of children in custody are not investigated sufficiently. Nearly 30 people have died in prison since 1990 and nine out of 10 people think there should always be a public inquiry when a young person dies in custody.
The ‘Back on Track’ campaign is calling for an immediate end to humiliating practices of strip searching and the inappropriate use of control and restraint. We would also like to see a greater provision of services (in custody and the community) for young people who offend who are in need of treatment for mental health problems, drug or alcohol abuse.
