Responding to a consultation on the future role of the YJB, The Howard League for Penal Reform said there should be a “clear and transparent” system for assessing and placing young people in suitable environments.
The charity, which has previously raised concerns about young people being placed in the wrong type of custodial establishment, also wants decisions to be subject to independent inspection to ensure the system is working properly.
The call for change follows a critical report last October by the Prison Reform Trust and Inquest. The report into the cases of nine under-18s who died in custody found that many “were placed in prisons with unsafe environments and cells”, despite experiencing problems with self-harm, substance misuse and mental health.
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