Violence highest in youth institutions
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Young offender institutions (YOIs) for young men are the most violent of all prisons, according to an analysis of Prison Service information by the Prison Reform Trust.
The trust found that in open YOIs, the number of serious assaults was four times higher than the Prison Service's target, and in Onley YOI, near Rugby, it was nearly eight times higher.
Two other YOIs, Northallerton in Yorkshire and Feltham in London, were in the top four of the most violent prisons.
The trust's report blamed overcrowding and noted that inmates in YOIs tend to be more vulnerable and volatile than other prisoners.
Serious assaults are categorised as an assault leading to a conviction.
- www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk.
