YJB Convention: Secure estate cash "should be diverted to community housing"

26 November 2008 1 min read Alison Bennett Youth Justice

Money should be taken out of the secure estate and spent on rehousing young people in the community, the former director of Ashfield Young Offender Institution (YOI) has said.

Vicky O'Dea was talking at the Youth Justice Board's (YJB) annual convention in Harrogate yesterday, when she said that supported half way houses should be set up to help young offenders resettle in the community.

"It helps no one when a young person goes to a bed and breakfast," she said. "I would ask the YJB to take 10 spaces from Huntercombe YOI, 10 from Ashfield YOI and 10 from Feltham YOI, and put them in the community, such as a half way house.

"We need to put some staff in to help with substance misuse and mental health issues and to help them manage budgets."

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