Support and guidance in youth prisons has declined

Children and Young People in Custody 2008-2009, based on the views of 1,110 children and young people from 18 prisons, indicates that although 70 per cent of young men wish to stop offending, only around half thought they had done anything in prison to make that more likely.

The number of young men who feel respected by staff fell from 76 per cent in 2006-2008 to 72 per cent, while one in 10 young men and one in five young women were not aware of reward schemes to incentivise good behaviour.

One in five young men and women reported victimisation by staff, with most complaining of insulting remarks and verbal victimisation. Less than a quarter of young men had been spoken to about getting a job on release, while less than a third had a Connexions personal adviser.

The report showed a marked difference in the experiences of 15- to 18-year-old prisoners between different establishments, particularly in relation to force used by staff and provision of access to education.

"This report shows that standards are variable and that some teenagers in prison do not even get their basic needs met," said Penelope Gibbs, director of the Out of Trouble programme for the Prison Reform Trust.

"If numbers in custody were reduced still further, resources could be freed up to do intensive work with those inside and to prevent teenagers becoming career criminals."