Public backs prison alternatives for young offenders
Tom Lloyd
Friday, January 4, 2008
A poll from prison campaign group SmartJustice has suggested there is little public support for imprisoning under 18s.
The survey, which was conducted by polling organisation ICM, found 65 per cent of the 1000 plus people interviewed think prisons are ineffective in reducing youth offending.
Only one in 10 of those polled thought incarceration turns young people into law abiding citizens.
Instead most people were in favour of offering constructive activities to divert young people from crime, and improved mental health or substance abuse services.
The Prison Reform Trust, which runs SmartJustice, commissioned the poll to gauge public opinion as it launches its Programme to Reduce Child and Young Imprisonment.
The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund is funding this five-year initiative with £1.5m. It will look at criminal justice policy and develop prison diversion schemes.
Penelope Gibbs, director of the programme, said: "This survey shows that people do not support the imprisonment of non-violent teenagers."
