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Young offender academies proposed Young offender academies proposed
(about 3 hours later)
A panel of criminal justice experts is calling for the government to back a network of young offender "academies". A panel of criminal justice experts is calling for the government to back a network of young offender "academies" to try to stop re-offending.
The aim would be to provide continuity for offenders aged 10 to 18 before, during and after periods in custody. They would give those aged 10 to 18 access to health, education and family support services before, during and after periods in custody.
Access to a range of health, education, and family support services would be offered, to try to stop re-offending. The plans - from experts including prison inspectors in England and Wales - would need government backing.
The panel including ex-chief inspector of prisons in England and Wales, Lord Ramsbotham, spent six months on the plans, which need government backing. A pilot centre for more than 200 offenders is proposed for east London.
Under the proposal for a pilot centre in east London, catering for more than 200 offenders, there would be a secure residential unit on the site for convicted offenders serving custodial sentences and those on remand. It would include a secure residential unit for convicted offenders serving custodial sentences and those on remand.
Housing would also be available for offenders who require less intensive supervision.Housing would also be available for offenders who require less intensive supervision.
The academy offers a practical and purposeful alternative that must be given a chance Lord Ramsbotham FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme
Lord Ramsbotham said: "Our current youth justice system is failing the public; witness the appalling numbers who are reconvicted after serving either community or prison sentences. Ex-chief inspector of prisons in England and Wales, Lord Ramsbotham, one of those behind the plans, said: "Our current youth justice system is failing the public; witness the appalling numbers who are reconvicted after serving either community or prison sentences.
"The numbers of young people at risk of offending, through parental neglect, truancy or eviction from school, lack of meaningful employment, drugs, violence and other causes, is a threat to our national future.""The numbers of young people at risk of offending, through parental neglect, truancy or eviction from school, lack of meaningful employment, drugs, violence and other causes, is a threat to our national future."
He added that the academy "offers a practical and purposeful alternative that must be given a chance to prove that locally provided solutions are better than nationally imposed ones".He added that the academy "offers a practical and purposeful alternative that must be given a chance to prove that locally provided solutions are better than nationally imposed ones".
'Custodial element''Custodial element'
The panel said it hoped that if the east London academy got the go-ahead and was successful, academies could be set up in other towns and cities. The panel said it hoped that if the east London academy got approval and was successful, academies could be set up in other towns and cities.
But the Youth Justice Board (YJB) - which is responsible for dealing with offenders aged 10 to 17 in England and Wales - is understood to have reservations about the plans, though it supports the broad thrust of the proposals.But the Youth Justice Board (YJB) - which is responsible for dealing with offenders aged 10 to 17 in England and Wales - is understood to have reservations about the plans, though it supports the broad thrust of the proposals.
The report detailing the plans said the YJB was "not convinced that a custodial element is necessary... it has serious concerns about placement".The report detailing the plans said the YJB was "not convinced that a custodial element is necessary... it has serious concerns about placement".
According to the document, the YJB is concerned about the "ability of a single establishment to adequately provide for the entire range of age, gender, risk, safety, vulnerability and sentence length issues".According to the document, the YJB is concerned about the "ability of a single establishment to adequately provide for the entire range of age, gender, risk, safety, vulnerability and sentence length issues".
Former Youth Justice Board chairman Professor Rod Morgan is a panel member.Former Youth Justice Board chairman Professor Rod Morgan is a panel member.