Revised guidance issued by the MoJ to youth offending teams (YOTs) says young people can only be tagged or be required to take part in intensive supervision and surveillance programmes on their release from custody if they present a "high risk of serious reoffending" that cannot be managed in any other, less intrusive way.
The MoJ also underlined that the restrictions imposed on young offenders leaving prison through Notices of Supervision must not to be used to punish them or protect them from harm.
"Requirements to Notices of Supervision should be designed to prevent future crime," the guidance states. "They should never be applied as a punishment."
Before imposing a requirement, it adds, YOTs should discuss the proposed restrictions with the young person to ensure they can meet the requirements and that they understand what is expected of them and what the consequences of a breach would entail.
The tighter guidance follows a three-year lobbying campaign by the Howard League for Penal Reform, which said the use of punitive restrictions on young offenders was setting them up to fail and increasing their chances of going back to prison.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
