17.01.14
Fortified school planned for young criminals
A new ‘fortified school’ will be built for young offenders, more than doubling the number of hours they currently spend in education each week.
The £85m secure college would be located next to Glen Parva prison in Leicestershire and include 320 beds for 12-17 year olds. They will be required to spend at least 24 hours a week in classrooms.
The school aims to cut the reoffending rate and could form a pilot for a network of facilities across the country. It is scheduled to open in 2017, dependent on new legislation being introduced.
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said: “We need to turn these young people into better citizens not better criminals.
“If we want to stop prisons being colleges of crime, we have to teach these kids how to do something else.”
Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, said: “Nearly three-quarters of young offenders who leave custody reoffend within a year. Clearly the system as it is at the moment isn’t working.
“It’s right that the most serious or persistent young offenders face custody but we must use this time to tackle the root cause of their offending and give them the skills and self-discipline they need to gain employment or training upon release.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “The fortified school will provide young offenders with strong discipline, while focusing squarely on rehabilitation and education.”
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