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Monday, 13 October 2008

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Young people

Young people and custody

If you're found guilty of a criminal offence, you could find yourself facing time in custody. You won't be sent to an adult prison, but a special facility for young people that offers training, supervision and support after release.

Detention in juvenile custody

The Detention and Training Order (DTO) is the main custodial sentence for young people between 12 and 17.

The DTO is a two-part sentence, served partly in custody and partly under supervision in the community, with a strong emphasis on training and rehabilitation.

It has a minimum term of four months and a maximum of two years. Early release of one or two months is available, depending on the length of the sentence.

If someone is released early, they'll be monitored using an electronic tag. This allows a youth offending team to help anyone who is having problems returning to a community.

A court can only give someone a DTO if

the offence is punishable with imprisonment in the case of a person aged 21 or over; and
the court decides only a custodial sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence; and
where the person is aged 12-15 at the time of conviction, that he or she is a persistent offender

Young people under the age of 18 who are found guilty of the most serious crimes, like murder and serious assaults, can be detained for longer periods.

Types of secure accommodation

There are three types of accommodation where you may be sent to serve a custodial sentence:

a young offender institution
a secure training centre
a local authority secure children's home

Where you are placed will depend on your age, sex, individual needs and your home address.

If you're under 15, you will not be held in a young offender's institution.

Young offenders’ institutions (YOIs)

Young offender institutions are run by the Prison Service. Boys aged 15-17 are held in juvenile-only buildings, or on sites shared with, but separate from, YOIs for 18-20 year olds.

Young female offenders are placed in self-contained girls' units attached to existing female institutions, but these units work in the same way as young offender institutions.

Some female prisoners under the age of 18 may be placed on a juvenile wing of an adult female prison in exceptional circumstances like childcare or medical reasons.

Offenders receive up to 25 hours of education every week, which includes courses and programmes looking at improving behaviour.

Secure training centres (STCs)

These centres provide secure accommodation for offenders up to the age of 17. They are usually smaller than young offenders' institutions and provide education and vocational training, as well as focusing on addressing someone's behaviour.

People in STCs get up to 30 hours of education every week, giving them the skills and qualifications they need to stop offending once they leave the centre.

Secure children's homes

These homes are run by local authorities and accommodate the most vulnerable young offenders whose problems have contributed to their criminal behaviour. They may be have been in care or have mental health problems.

People in secure children's homes tend to be younger than those in training centres or young offender's institutions.

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What's it like?

Whatever type of centre you may have to go to, the emphasis will be put on rehabilitation and training, rather than simply spending time behind bars.

You'll spend your time going to classes and sessions that will help you learn the skills to get a job or gain the confidence to return to education once you leave. There is also time put aside for sport and fitness training, as well as other leisure activities that will allow you to develop skills that you can use in the future.

Although centres offer young offenders the chance to turn their lives around, some may find their time in custody a very tough and difficult experience.

Centres have very strict rules about what you can and can't do, and you may have to talk about things that you find upsetting or have to go through alcohol and drug counselling.

Further information

If you're facing a custodial sentence, or would like to know more about young people in custody, there are a number of organisations that may be able to give you advice.