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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/10/youth-justice-education-commitment-liz-truss
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| Government will use education to offer hope to young offenders Government will use education to offer hope to young offenders | |
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| Our youth justice system should not just be about punishing crime, important though that is; it should also be about reforming offenders. It should provide discipline, purpose, supervision and someone who cares – elements that have all too often been missing from these young lives. | Our youth justice system should not just be about punishing crime, important though that is; it should also be about reforming offenders. It should provide discipline, purpose, supervision and someone who cares – elements that have all too often been missing from these young lives. |
| The people in our prisons and young offender institutions have broken the law, they have violated the rules under which a civilised society necessarily and rightly operates, and they must face the consequences. But we are missing an opportunity if we do not recognise that helping these people to turn their lives around not only benefits them but benefits us all, preventing more of us becoming victims of crime; making streets and communities safer. And delivering huge savings to the public purse. | The people in our prisons and young offender institutions have broken the law, they have violated the rules under which a civilised society necessarily and rightly operates, and they must face the consequences. But we are missing an opportunity if we do not recognise that helping these people to turn their lives around not only benefits them but benefits us all, preventing more of us becoming victims of crime; making streets and communities safer. And delivering huge savings to the public purse. |
| Nowhere is this opportunity greater than with our young people. Because here the penal system has its earliest chance to intervene, to steer our young people away from a life of crime and on to the right path, towards finding a job, settling down with a family. | Nowhere is this opportunity greater than with our young people. Because here the penal system has its earliest chance to intervene, to steer our young people away from a life of crime and on to the right path, towards finding a job, settling down with a family. |
| Today there are fewer than 1,000 children in custody but this small number represents some of the most complex, violent and damaged children within society. I repeat, they have committed some appalling crimes and it is right that the public are protected and justice is done. However, youth custody should be about more than containment where children are exposed to yet more violence and given little hope that things may ever change. | Today there are fewer than 1,000 children in custody but this small number represents some of the most complex, violent and damaged children within society. I repeat, they have committed some appalling crimes and it is right that the public are protected and justice is done. However, youth custody should be about more than containment where children are exposed to yet more violence and given little hope that things may ever change. |
| On average it costs £75,000 a year to keep an offender in a young offender institution yet seven out of 10 will commit another crime within a year of release. Centres that deliver containment without purpose all too often lead to young criminals becoming persistent offenders whose only graduation is into adult prison – young anger that turns into an adult’s hardened attitude to others and leaves a trail of devastated victims in its wake. | On average it costs £75,000 a year to keep an offender in a young offender institution yet seven out of 10 will commit another crime within a year of release. Centres that deliver containment without purpose all too often lead to young criminals becoming persistent offenders whose only graduation is into adult prison – young anger that turns into an adult’s hardened attitude to others and leaves a trail of devastated victims in its wake. |
| This is our chance to equip young offenders with the skills they need to lead law-abiding lives. This is why Charlie Taylor’s groundbreaking new report rightly focuses on putting education at the heart of youth custody. He has made a compelling case for change, and the government has listened. So we will establish two new secure schools – giving children the maths, English and practical skills they need to thrive on the outside. | This is our chance to equip young offenders with the skills they need to lead law-abiding lives. This is why Charlie Taylor’s groundbreaking new report rightly focuses on putting education at the heart of youth custody. He has made a compelling case for change, and the government has listened. So we will establish two new secure schools – giving children the maths, English and practical skills they need to thrive on the outside. |
| The progress that young offenders make in education, health and behaviour will be measured to show how well establishments are doing in reforming young offenders. A new role will be created to take charge of youth custody, tasked with reducing violence, driving performance and taking action when necessary if centres are failing. | The progress that young offenders make in education, health and behaviour will be measured to show how well establishments are doing in reforming young offenders. A new role will be created to take charge of youth custody, tasked with reducing violence, driving performance and taking action when necessary if centres are failing. |
| We will be putting an extra £15m into providing 20% more staff to give the children the supervision and support they need – to challenge them to change and to drive reform. And in time we want to see every young person in custody on an apprenticeship or on the path to further or higher education. Every young person who leaves custody should be earning or learning. | We will be putting an extra £15m into providing 20% more staff to give the children the supervision and support they need – to challenge them to change and to drive reform. And in time we want to see every young person in custody on an apprenticeship or on the path to further or higher education. Every young person who leaves custody should be earning or learning. |
| Of course, we need to do more – and we will. Intervening early is crucial in reducing youth crime. However, these longer-term changes we need in our system should not stop us taking the urgent action required to transform youth custody from places where young offenders are left to fester into places of discipline and purpose. | Of course, we need to do more – and we will. Intervening early is crucial in reducing youth crime. However, these longer-term changes we need in our system should not stop us taking the urgent action required to transform youth custody from places where young offenders are left to fester into places of discipline and purpose. |
| Youth custody represents a crossroads for the young offenders within. They have arrived there through a myriad of missed opportunities, a lack of good guidance and too many bad choices. They may be violent, damaged and challenging but they should not leave without hope that there is another way to lead their lives. | Youth custody represents a crossroads for the young offenders within. They have arrived there through a myriad of missed opportunities, a lack of good guidance and too many bad choices. They may be violent, damaged and challenging but they should not leave without hope that there is another way to lead their lives. |
| It’s not too late to turn the time spent in custody into a turning point for hundreds of young people. | It’s not too late to turn the time spent in custody into a turning point for hundreds of young people. |
| Liz Truss is lord chancellor and the secretary of state for justice | Liz Truss is lord chancellor and the secretary of state for justice |