2. The study First detailed profile of children in prison for 25 years
Done with the help of YJB
A census of children entering youth custody
Detailed examination of sub-samples
SACHS – YJB’s clearing house data including Asset 2

3. 17-year-old Kyle
Kyle is 17. Long record. In for aggravated burglary. Poor school history. Diagnosed ADHD.
Mum kicked him out. Lives with his dad, who has also been to prison. ... I look up to me dad and that’s it. It’s mad. I’ve gone into me dad’s footprints haven’t I, really.
Kyle’s hopes: Get somewhere in life. ...Not be on the streets all the time, drinking, watching people waste their life. ... You need education, but I ain’t got none have I, so tough luck. ... I’m a little chav aren’t I.

4. The statistics in brief
3,300 sentenced children June-Dec 2008
2,700 remanded in custody
Peak daily population: 3,175 in 2002
Falling to 2,173 by June 2010
A third sentenced for less serious non-violent offences
Three fifths sentenced for offences usually attracting community penalties
Breach is a significant driver 4

5. Too punitive a response?
Despite falls, we still imprison more children than other European countries
And have a lower age of criminal responsibility
Persistence gets children into prison
A highly disadvantaged group
Who have become inured to deterrent threat
When something doesn’t work, does it make sense to continue doing it?
Especially when we can’t afford it? 5

6. Disadvantage Courts must ‘have regard to the welfare of the child’
But children who offend are doubly vulnerable:
vulnerable within CJS because of age
disadvantaged backgrounds
We assessed:
19 family/home disadvantages
11 psycho-social & educational disadvantages
among 200 sentenced children

7. Family/home disadvantages
Type of disadvantage
% known
Absent father
76%
Abuse/neglect
39%
Absent mother
33%
Witnessed domestic violence
28%
Has been in care
27%
Father/step-father involved in crime
18%
Sibling(s) involved in crime
17%
Bereavement parent(s) and/or sibling(s)
12%

8. Psycho-social & educational
More gaps in data. But:
Type of disadvantage
% known
Associates with mainly pro-criminal peers
70%
Truancy/other non-attendance of school
54%
Exclusion
48%
Substance use risky/detrimental
31%
Self-harm
20%
Diagnosis emotional/mental health problem
17%
Attempted suicide
11%

9. Layering of disadvantages
Multiple layers of disadvantage
Half had 3+ of both types of disadvantage (family and psych/soc/educ)
Average no. disadvantages per child = 7.4
Boys’ average = 7.2
Girls’ average = 8.9
Complex problems reinforcing each other; inter-related with offending behaviour

10. Conclusions Custody frequently used for repeat, less serious offending
Deep-rooted, complex needs underlie this offending
Welfare should be at the heart of efforts to tackle offending by children ….
… in recognition of how troubled these children are, as well as how troublesome is their behaviour.

11. 15-year-old Jake
10-month DTO - breach of community order. Past offences - car theft, violence, drugs. Youngest of large family; in care for many years; mother died recently: My mum had an accident and died one day and that’s probably the reason why I’m in here. Upset and then not bothered about anything. Excluded from 4 different secondary schools. Has had no visits from family while in custody. Not bothered. I’ve done something wrong so I have to do this.

12. Punishing Disadvantage
Jessica Jacobson
Bina Bhardwa
Tracey Gyateng
Gillian Hunter
Mike Hough 12