Currently two of the 16 YOIs in England and Wales are run privately -Parc in Bridgend, Wales, and Ashfield in Bristol.
Colin Moses, POA chair, said he fears the government plans to privatiseas many as two-thirds of YOIs.
"Our biggest concern is the threat of YOIs being handed over to theprivate sector," he said.
The fears relate to plans Justice Secretary Jack Straw announced inApril to "re-compete" the contracts of five prisons in the adult estatewhen their current contracts end to ensure prison services work asefficiently as possible.
But an MoJ spokeswoman said there are no plans to "market-test"YOIs.
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