We have a minister for young people and numerous Government initiatives to support young people, but I do not see many of these taking place inside our young offender institutions. Admittedly, young offenders remain a hard to reach group. There is little public sympathy for people who commit crimes, and there are few votes to be won in supporting them.
But further excluding them from services and support does nothing to keep young offenders out of trouble and reduce reoffending rates.
I do not, for instance, see much of a planned approach to rehousing to ensure young offenders have suitable accommodation and support in place either on release from custody or to prevent them from being remanded in custody. Simple bricks and mortar, along with appropriate financial and human support, would give young people a real chance to improve their lives. It would also go a long way to making communities safer for the people who fear young offenders.
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