Frances Crook, director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, told CYP Now that reducing the levels of children in custody would save money and reduce reoffending levels.
She said. "Short-term custody is expensive and makes things worse. I'm hopeful that measures in the green paper will increase the minimum sentence for custody to six months for serious offences."
The concept of minimum six-month sentences for young offenders was suggested last year by former Conservative shadow justice minister David Burrowes, to allow more time to rehabilitate offenders.
Speaking at the Nacro conference in Nottingham, he said exploring whether a minimum 12 month detention and training order - six months detention and six months training in the community - would be more effective than current arrangements.
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