Brown reveals "revolving door" at young offenders institutions

10.01.18am GMT Mon 9th Mar 2009

Robert Brown MSP, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson, has uncovered figures that show clear failures in rehabilitating young offenders in Scotland.

An answer to a Parliamentary Question shows that almost 85% of young offenders held in institutions across Scotland have been there before. It was revealed that of the 624 prisoners currently held in young offenders institutions around Scotland, 530 have been there before.

Commenting, Mr Brown said:

"These figures are an astonishing indictment of the failings of Scotland's criminal justice system. They give a clear answer to those who say that prison sentences are a deterrent to young offenders.

"I am pleased that the SNP has published proposals to shift from short custodial sentences that don't work to community based sentences that do. But, community sentences must be speedy, effective and efficient. My concern is that the SNP have not begun to spell out how they will make these reforms work in practice. It is absolutely vital that they do so.

"We must be inventive if we are to curb re-offending rates in Scotland. A great example of this is the Reclaim initiative which I visited last week. Getting young people out of gangs and off the street has been coupled with a substantial reduction in local crime rates.

"No one would dispute the need for dangerous criminals to be locked up. But we must look seriously at how we deal with many young offenders who do not meet that criteria and end the revolving door culture at Scotland's young offender institutions."