The YJB is consulting on its future strategy for secure accommodation for young offenders.
The board aims to tackle uneven distribution of beds across England and Wales and the fact that too many prison service units are large traditional cell blocks shared with adult prisoners.
Staff also need more training in positive, child-centred care and control methods, says the YJB.
Last year the average time from arrest to sentencing for young offenders was 65 days– achieving the Government’s 71-day target, says a review by the Youth Justice Board.
However, the target was not achieved on a regular basis in seven of the 42 criminal justice areas, says the report.
Young Offender Institutions also exceeded the Government’s literacy and numeracy target by 16.7 per cent, with a total of 4,582 basic skills qualifications gained.
Although the juvenile prison population fell significantly last year, there was a rise above predicted seasonal trends in the first half of this year, much of it due to custodial remands, says the report.
Review at: http://www.youth-justice-board.gov.uk/Publications/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=198&eP=YJB
Draft strategy paper at:
http://www.youth-justice-board.gov.uk/YouthJusticeBoard/Custody/StrategyForSecureEstate/
