News

Young offender institutions, secure training centres and local authority secure children’s homes could be brought “under one roof” with common standards in a shake-up of youth custody, according to government proposals leaked to Community Care, writes Maria Ahmed.

The plans are contained in the sentencing and youth justice bill, which the Home Office has confirmed is likely to be published in October.

The announcement has quashed fears that the youth justice bill, originally announced last year, had been abandoned after it was not mentioned in the Queen’s Speech in May.

The bill is likely to include proposals to establish intensive supervision and surveillance orders (ISSOs) as an alternative to custodial sentences, extend youth offending team functions, introduce generic youth community orders and make the prevention of re-offending the primary purpose of sentencing for young people.

Adult sentencing will also be contained in the bill, according to the leaked proposals, which could fuel growing speculation over the future of the management of offenders and sentencing bill announced in the Queen’s Speech this year.

Youth justice campaigners said they hoped the proposals to create common standards across YOIs, STCs and Laschs would drive up the quality of care for young offenders.

Pauline Batstone, chair of the Association of Youth Offending Team Managers, said the proposals would be “a chance to go back to the drawing board”.

The Youth Justice Board said it would not comment on the contents of the bill before it was published.