Smartjustice For Young People Campaign

EDM number 546 in 2006-07, proposed by Lynne Featherstone on 19/12/2006.

That this House notes that there are over 11,000 people under the age of 21 years in prison and that the number of 15 to 17 year olds in prison has more than doubled in the last 10 years; further notes that seven out of 10 young people are locked up for non-violent offences and that it costs over £50,000 a year to lock up each young offender; further notes that eight out of 10 of boys under 18 years are reconvicted within two years of being released; is concerned that many of these young people have reduced life chances and that half of under 18 year olds in prison have been in care and nearly three quarters have been excluded from school, that over half are addicted to drugs and that 85 per cent. show signs of a personality disorder; calls on the Home Office to provide more constructive activities for young people, more support to improve parenting, improvements in adolescent mental health care and drug and alcohol treatment in the community; and further calls for more effective community punishments and crime diversion schemes such as those profiled by SmartJustice for Young People.

This motion has been signed by a total of 104 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.