A recent investigation reveals alarming rates of children jailed far from home, raising concerns about their well-being and family connections
London: A new report shows that vulnerable kids are being locked up far from their families, and it’s hitting record levels. This situation has experts worried that the government is not following the law.
Over the last decade, the number of young people in young offender institutions (YOIs) more than 100 miles from home has doubled to 15%. That’s the highest it’s been since the peak during the Covid pandemic.
More than 10% of these kids are now at least 75 miles away from their families, which is the worst it’s been since the Ministry of Justice started tracking these numbers in 2015.
With youth custody centers closing down, fewer kids are being kept close to their families. Experts say that keeping kids near their families can help reduce the chances of them reoffending.
In October, only 17% of the 530 young people in custody were close to home, which is the lowest number ever recorded. Most of them, about 80%, are in violent and poorly managed YOIs.
Despite years of warnings from various organizations about the negative effects of this trend, the situation has only gotten worse.
The National Association for Youth Justice (NAYJ) called these figures a “social injustice” for vulnerable children and their families.
Dr. Samantha Burns, the deputy chair, pointed out that the government is failing to uphold its legal duty to maintain family ties for those in custody, as outlined in the Children Act 1989.
Many of these young people are extremely vulnerable and have complex needs, including mental health issues and special educational requirements.
The previous Conservative government had promised to close all YOIs and replace them with smaller, more child-friendly secure schools, but so far, only one has opened.
Earlier this year, Scotland moved all its under-18s out of YOIs and into more suitable settings.
Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner, urged Keir Starmer to speed up plans to replace YOIs with smaller secure homes closer to families.
She emphasized that kids in the youth justice system need stable, positive relationships to have a real chance at rehabilitation. Being far from home doesn’t help them become happy, successful adults.
In a report from 2023, de Souza found that over half of the kids placed more than 100 miles from home didn’t get any in-person visits in a month. In contrast, 84% of those placed within 24 miles received at least one visit.
Without significant changes, kids will keep being sent far from their families and stuck in facilities that perpetuate violence and exploitation.
Feltham A, a young offender institution in west London, was recently labeled the most violent prison in the country, with teens refusing family visits to protect their relatives.
Another YOI, Wetherby, has the highest self-harm rates of any prison in the UK.
YOIs are supposed to provide at least 15 hours of education a week, but a recent review found that standards have been declining for the past decade.
Inspectors expressed deep concern about the conditions faced by vulnerable children in Britain.
As of October, the number of children in England’s youth custody system dropped to 525, down from 1,085 in April 2015. Most of these kids, 366, are in one of four YOIs.
There were 99 fewer spaces in the system in August 2024 compared to the previous year, leading to more kids being jailed far from home.
James Simmonds-Read from the Children’s Society highlighted serious issues in the youth justice system, calling for urgent changes to prevent kids from feeling isolated and unsupported.
He noted that the emotional and mental health impact can be severe, as disconnection and inadequate care only add to their challenges.
Shauneen Lambe, a barrister and director at the Youth Justice Legal Centre, stressed that reintegrating these kids into society will be tougher the further they are from their parents and support networks.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated that while the number of children in custody has significantly decreased, decisions about placements are made carefully, prioritizing family ties.
