His Majesty's Young Offender Institution (or HMYOI) is a type of prison in Great Britain, intended for offenders aged up to 18, although some prisons cater for younger offenders from ages 15 to 17, who are classed as juvenile offenders. Typically those aged under 15 will be held in a Secure Children's Home and those over 15 will be held in either a Young Offender Institution or Secure Training Centre. A person is a young offender until they become 18, where they will be sent to an adult prison or can remain in the YOI until they turn 21 if deemed appropriate.

Background

Young Offender Institutions were introduced under the

Criminal Justice Act 1988 The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c 33) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Title The title of this Act is: Unduly lenient sentences In England and Wales, the Act granted the Attorney General the power to refer sentences for ...

, but special centres for housing young offenders have existed since the beginning of the 20th century: the first

borstal A Borstal was a type of youth detention centre in the United Kingdom, several member states of the Commonwealth and the Republic of Ireland. In India, such a detention centre is known as a Borstal school. Borstals were run by HM Prison Service ...

opened at

Borstal A Borstal was a type of youth detention centre in the United Kingdom, several member states of the Commonwealth and the Republic of Ireland. In India, such a detention centre is known as a Borstal school. Borstals were run by HM Prison Service ...

, Kent in 1902. The regime of a Young Offender Institution is much the same as that of an adult prison. However, there are some slight differences, notably the lower staff-to-offender

ratio In mathematics, a ratio shows how many times one number contains another. For example, if there are eight oranges and six lemons in a bowl of fruit, then the ratio of oranges to lemons is eight to six (that is, 8:6, which is equivalent to the ...

. Prisoners serving sentences at Young Offender Institutions are expected to take part in at least 25 hours of education per week, aimed at helping them to improve their behaviour, to develop practical skills for use in the outside world and to prepare them for lawful employment following their release. There are also opportunities for prisoners to undertake work in Community Service Volunteer programmes. Violence can occur often in Young Offender Institutions. Some believe that staff do not always do enough to prevent violence. Inmates are often locked in cells for up to 21 hours a day and given little tuition or guidance. Three quarters of offenders released from Young Offender Institutions re-offend within a year. The use of isolation for young offenders is increasing though this is considered bad for their mental health. At all YOIs during six-month there were 306 cases of segregation lasting over a week, which is "very high". Gang involvement, levels of prison staff and lack of NHS mental health beds may cause the rise in segregation. Offenders undergo risk assessments to assess the likeliness of reoffending. This assessment is known as Youth level of service.

List of Young Offender Institutions

* HMP Woodhill * HMYOI Altcourse * HMYOI Aylesbury * HMYOI Deerbolt * HMYOI Huntercombe * HMYOI Onley *

HMYOI Polmont His Majesty's Young Offenders Institution Polmont is the largest of its kind in Scotland. HMP Polmont first opened as a Borstal in 1911 in the buildings of the former Blairlodge Academy. The Academy had been forced to close in 1908 due to financ ...

* HMYOI Portland * HMYOI Rochester * HMYOI Stoke Heath * HMYOI Swinfen Hall * HMYOI Thorn Cross * HMYOI Werrington * HMYOI Wetherby and 23 which share their site with other penal establishments: * HMP & YOI Askham Grange * HMP & YOI Brinsford * HMP & YOI Brockhill * HMP & YOI Bronzefield * HMP & YOI Castington * HMP & YOI Chelmsford * HMP & YOI Durham * HMP & YOI East Sutton Park * HMP & YOI Elmley * HMP & YOI Feltham * HMP & YOI Guys Marsh * HMP & YOI Hatfield * HMP & YOI Hindley * HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay * HMP & YOI Low Newton * HMP & YOI Moorland * HMP & YOI New Hall * HMP & YOI Norwich * HMP & YOI Reading * HMP & YOI Warren Hill * HMP/RC & YOI Exeter * HMYOI & RC Glen Parva * HMP & YOI Winchester

References

{{reflist Penal system in England Penal system in Wales 1988 establishments in England 1988 establishments in Wales 1988 in law Government agencies established in 1988

Background

List of Young Offender Institutions

See also

References