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Youth custody: Charity to appeal on housing failure

A prison reform charity is to appeal to the House of Lords about the case of a young girl who was released from custody with no safe home to go to.

The Howard League for Penal Reform, which says the girl was giveninadequate services, support and guidance on her release, claims thecase could affect provision for all vulnerable young people releasedfrom custody.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the case earlier this year, but last weekgranted the charity leave to appeal.

Frances Crook, director of the league, said: "Every year hundreds ofvery challenging children are released from prison with little or noback-up. Is it any wonder that nearly 90 per cent are reconvicted of anoffence?"

In January the girl, homeless and already convicted of a serious streetrobbery, was sentenced to four months' detention after failing to attenda youth offending team appointment. In March she was released fromprison but had no home to go to.

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