Sentencing: Young Offenders
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of short custodial sentences on youth reoffending rates.
Answered by Jake Richards
More than two-thirds of children released from custodial sentences of twelve months or less in 2023/24 went on to reoffend within a year. They provide limited time for rehabilitation and can disrupt education, family ties, and support networks, which are necessary for turning children away from offending. In light of this, the Government is proposing to reduce the use of short custodial sentences for children by legislating to raise the standard minimum Detention and Training Order term from 4 to 12 months.
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