Young Offenders Self-Harm Levels Revealed
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has been forced to reveal the true scale of self-harm taking place in young offender institutions (YOIs) following a 14-month investigation by Children & Young People Now.
The figures reveal there were a total of 2,040 self-harm incidents last year and 914 assaults on staff.
The MoJ was prompted to release the figures by the Information Commissioner after CYP Now made a series of complaints over attempts to suppress them.
The figures reveal that self-harm incidents have remained at a fairly consistent level over the past three years – 1,835 in 2007 and 2,062 in 2006. However, levels have more than doubled in the past 10 years.
http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletins/Daily-Bulletin/news/883571/?DCMP=EMC-DailyBulletin
‘Too many’ mentally ill in prison
Thousands of people with mental health problems are ending up in jail rather than receiving treatment, the Prison Reform Trust has said.
Offering mental health and social care instead of custody would relieve pressure on prisons and could cut reoffending rates, the trust argues.
It says figures show one in 10 inmates has a “serious mental health issue”.
The government said it had made it clear that offenders with severe mental illness should be treated not punished.