Less young offenders in custody will allow prisons to offer more effective training and education programmes, Lord Filkin said today, writes Maria Ahmed.
The parliamentary under-secretary of state for children and families told a conference in London that changes in sentencing policy were needed to allow the prison service "breathing space" to prepare inmates for employment when they were released.
Speaking at Policy Review magazine's annual crime and justice conference, he said "interrupted" learning remained a problem for young offenders who did not have the chance to complete or even begin courses due to pressures on the prison service.
Research conducted for Community Care last year by the Prison Reform Trust found that the high turnover of 18-20-year-olds in prison meant many were unable to complete courses because they were moved so frequently around the secure estate.
Lord Filkin said the prison service needed to deliver better training and education with the aim of getting more young offenders into employment.
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