Latest news with #youthjustice
BBC News
16 hours ago
- BBC News
Young offenders spend most of their time locked in cells
Most children in young offender institutions (YOIs) spend "most of their time locked alone in their cells", according to an inspection report laid bare the "failure" by the Youth Custody Service to "create environments in which staff and children are able to form positive, appropriate relationships".The findings were based on interviews with children aged 10 to 18, as well as staff, at YOIs in Bridgend in South Wales, Stoke-on-Trent, and the Wetherby and Keppel units in West Ministry of Justice has been contacted for comment. Authored by Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor, the report found there was "little that was reliable or consistent about life in [many] YOIs".Campbell Robb, chief executive at social justice charity Nacro, said the report was "more evidence that the environment in our YOIs is profoundly harmful for children, many of whom are already extremely vulnerable".The report found fewer than half of the children in custody felt cared for by staff, while one in three said there was no member of staff they could turn to if they had a problem."This is concerning because staff rely on meaningful, trusting relationships to encourage children to engage with education, health care or offending behaviour programmes, as well as to defuse conflict and violence," it to the report, "there is mounting evidence that relationships between staff and children in custody are a key element in delivering better outcomes".However, children being locked up for most of the day meant "there was very little time for staff to get to know those in their care".As of March, there were 502 young people detained at YOIs in England and Wales."We don't have the power to change a lot and the kids know it," said one YOI staff member. 'Urgent action' At Wetherby YOI, children told inspectors it could take up to 45 minutes to get a response after ringing their cell bell, while most wings did not provide opportunities for exercise, association or time for domestic tasks during the Werrington near Stoke, one child said they had pressed their cell bell five times to get a plastic also said there was "simply no time" to make a positive impact on children's Robb, whose organisation supports people in the criminal justice system, said the report "should prompt the government to take urgent action". "We urge them to ensure that children should only be held in custody as an absolute last resort and to ensure a safe, rehabilitative environment in all YOIs to give young people the best possible chance to change." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
From fine dining to feeding youth in need
Ashlee Savea prepares lunch at the residence. Each teen has a $20 a day budget. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham A set of keys jangling from her pocket to get through the thick, secure doors is a reminder of one Palmerston North chef's job change. After 17 years in fine dining, hotel, and large catering jobs, three years ago, Ashlee Savea took the helm of the kitchen at the city's Oranga Tamariki youth justice facility, Te Au rere a te Tonga. Ashlee Savea has swapped fine dining for working in a youth justice facility. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham Savea swapped preparing gourmet creations for paying customers with feeding youth offenders on a $20-a-day per-head budget. Up to 30 young people, aged 12-17, are onsite. "We serve ham and cheese sandwiches, beef tacos. We did a chicken karaage. The kids were like, What's this? We try to do some ethnic foods. We've done sushi, burgers," she said. "I develop the menu myself. I take inspiration a lot from my daughter. She's 9." The budget brought constraints - "I'm not going to order a slab of salmon" - and there was plenty of trial and error. Youth justice residents also had a chance to give feedback on what appealed and what didn't. The 34-year-old said she sometimes went into "mum mode" to remind the teens at Te Au rere a te Tonga to eat their greens and fruit - part of the vocational aspect of the job that appealed to Savea. Te Au rere a te Tonga, the youth justice residence in Palmerston North, can house up to 30 teens. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham Also appealing were the daytime hours, after a working life of weekends and evenings, which was hard on her family. She said changing jobs to work at a youth justice facility attracted its share of sideways glances, but she didn't have regrets. "Everyone has opinions about this place. At the end of the day, these are kids. They still need love... Some of them didn't even get fed at home, so this is really great for them," Savea said. "I've never second-guessed my safety or anything here." Sometimes there was an emotional toll. "You definitely hear stories about where these young people have come from, which is really hard to hear. Some of them have come from nothing. They're fending for themselves." Savea had three staff members, as well as casuals, working under her. When RNZ visited the industrial-looking kitchen, a bacon and egg Turkish pocket was on the lunch menu, ahead of southern-style fried chicken for dinner. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Teenager appears in court charged with murder of 14-year-old boy
A 14-year old boy has appeared in court charged with the murder of another teenager on the Isle of McBurnie, 14, died following an incident in the Close Drean area of Ramsey on Thursday teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared at Douglas Courthouse via live link. He has been remanded in custody and will next appear in court next on Wednesday. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
ABC News
03-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Teens who attacked Toutai Kefu and family in their Brisbane home have sentences upheld following appeal
Queensland's attorney-general has failed to appeal the sentences handed to two teenagers who attacked former rugby great Toutai Kefu and his family during a home invasion. Last year the two boys, who were aged 15 at the time of the incident, were sentenced over the 2021 break-in at Coorparoo, after pleading guilty to several offences including multiple counts of malicious acts with intent. They were both given less than 10 years in detention, and had no convictions recorded. The then attorney-general Yvette D'Ath launched an appeal on the grounds the sentences were manifestly inadequate. During a hearing held in the Court of Appeal earlier this year, prosecutors argued the sentencing judge did not have regard to the maximum penalty for some of the offences, which were deemed "particularly heinous". Under Queensland youth justice laws at the time, it meant the teenagers could face a punishment of up to and including life in prison. In a published judgement, three Court of Appeal judges found "no error had been established" by the attorney-general in relation to the sentencing judge's consideration of an appropriate term of detention.
CBS News
29-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Philadelphia pastor who works with teens in prison says listening is key to preventing gun violence
It's Dr. Damone Jones' life's work and passion to help young people in the criminal justice system, many charged as adults. He's the senior pastor of Bible Way Baptist Church and president of the BrothaHood Foundation, a basketball mentoring organization that goes to Philadelphia prisons. After Monday's deadly mass shooting on Lemon Hill Drive in Fairmount Park, he's reflecting on that work. "It's a balance between being concerned for people who are suffering as a result of gun violence in our city and across the nation, but also an attempt to change the hearts and minds of people who may have been involved in causing those problems," he said. Jones said many teens come from broken families and communities, and he uses basketball to break the ice and show them life isn't over. "It's an interesting experience. It can also be a little depressing to see children in cells ... and incarcerated," he said. "But when you sit one-on-one with a lot of these kids, you'll find out they are very similar to any other kids that you may interact with. Feelings, hurts, fears, they love, they trust." Jones said Monday's shooting broke his heart. "I know what the outcome is, I mean, pretty often it's either going to be jail for an extended period of time, or somebody is going to lose their life," he said. He said he uses current events to show them how they can be better. "We do have open conversations about that kind of thing. I learn a lot from them about what's happening on the streets and why it's happening and we just simply try to help them see that there are other pathways to take," he said. He hopes when people get out, they will contribute to society. He says building relationships and listening is key. "If you understand where they are, then you can begin to help them," Jones said. "But most people don't want to listen long enough ... because our focus is only on whatever that action it is that caused them to be there."
