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| Young offender academies proposed | Young offender academies proposed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| They would give those aged 10 to 18 access to health, education and family support services 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. |
| The plans - from experts including prison inspectors in England and Wales - would need government backing. | The plans - from experts including prison inspectors in England and Wales - would need government backing. |
| A pilot centre for more than 200 offenders is proposed for east London. | A pilot centre for more than 200 offenders is proposed for east London. |
| It would include a secure residential unit 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. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| 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. | 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 approval 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. |