A moving parting gift from young offenders

I had first visited the private prison long before I became a member of the YJB, determined to find fault given my ideological opposition to private sector involvement in the criminal justice system. For me, only the state had the moral authority and duty to incarcerate those it had decided should be deprived of their liberty.

But, in contrast to the multiple weaknesses within decaying Victorian institutions in the public sector, Parc was purp osely planned and impressively organised. Over the years I was with the YJB I saw its provision for juveniles increase and improve. It was still not ideal, but the regime was becoming as good as it could be in the circumstances, with great staff commitment, commendable behaviour management, and serious attention to all the issues from admission to release. Throughout my seven years on the board, I visited Parc on average twice a year, officially as part of my responsibilities for Wales but also because it was close to home and many of the young people came from localities I was all too familiar with through my youth and community work involvement.