England's children's commissioner calls for closure of young offender institutions

"Custody is being used as a waiting room for hundreds of children who are being unnecessarily locked up while awaiting trial or sentencing due to failing services, the children's commissioner for England has warned. Dame Rachel de Souza said many children were being placed in custody not because they posed the greatest risk, but because the systems designed to support them were failing."

"We have left a vacuum in the services that children need. We have retreated from our moral duty towards these children. And then we are surprised when they fall down, she is expected to say. Childhood is short and wild and precious. But once you're remanded into custody your innocence is gone. You see things. You're told you're guilty. I am worried that we have become complacent about children in custody. We have treated it as a battle won. We have to close all young offender institutions."

"New research on custodial remand for children where young people are held in custody while awaiting trial or sentencing, rather than being released on bail shows that many children are facing lengthy and unwarranted time behind bars. A report by the commissioner, published on Tuesday, found that in 2023-24, more than half (62%) of all children remanded to custody in England and Wales did not receive a custodial sentence, and 168 children (17%) had their case dismissed altogether."

Custody is being used as a waiting room for hundreds of children unnecessarily locked up while awaiting trial or sentencing because support services are failing. Many children are placed in custody not because they pose the greatest risk but because the systems designed to support them are failing. In 2023-24, 62% of children remanded to custody did not receive a custodial sentence and 168 children (17%) had their cases dismissed. Concerns include lengthy, unwarranted time behind bars and serious safeguarding problems in young offender institutions. Proposed reforms include closing YOIs and expanding secure homes and specialist foster care placements.

Read at www.theguardian.com