Jail dismissed as a university for crime

Prison was branded “a university of criminals” for young people at
a parliamentary briefing last week organised by Community Care as
part of its Back on Track campaign.

James McClenaghan, 18, an ex-offender who works for young people’s
charity Rainer, also dismissed short-term sentences as “a waste of
time” and highlighted the lack of opportunities for development and
support of young offenders.

Labour MP Hilton Dawson pledged to write to home secretary David
Blunkett asking him to meet young offenders.

Community Care is calling for an end to remanding children and
young people in prison. An early day motion on the campaign has the
support of 67 MPs and Lords.