Lessons from the literature: update July 2015
21 August 2015
This review is the most recent in a series of regular updates intended to outline the latest lessons from research, policy and practice in the resettlement of young people. It provides an overview of relevant publications and developments since Beyond Youth Custody’s last update in March 2015.
This review:
- outlines recent trends in youth imprisonment, presents the trajectories for different age groups of children and young adults, highlights gender differences in the rate of decline in the youth population and considers the implications of these trends for resettlement services and practitioners.
- considers the findings of recently published research including a study on the psychological impact of exposure to suicide or attempted suicide among prisoners aged 16-21, an American study into sexual abuse as a criminogenic factor for girls entering custody and outcomes of art-based therapy in high security custodial settings.
- draws attention to the current focus on safety in custodial institutions, summarising the findings of two recently published reports: the HM Inspectorate of Prisons Annual Report 14/15 and the Harris Review into self-inflicted deaths of 18-24 year olds in custody.