1. society

Why is Effective Reintegration for Young People Important?
May 2013
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Rob Strachan, Chief Officer of Lothian & Borders CJA, welcomed everyone to the workshop and
introduced Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of Scottish Prison Service, Margaret Brewer, Service
Manager, Criminal Justice, Midlothian Council and Karyn McCluseky, Director of Violence
Reduction Unit. The Chief Officer went on to thank Fiona Young for all her hard work on the
protocol and Angela Gentile who had started the protocol.
LAUNCH OF REINTEGRATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Colin McConnell, SPS congratulated the Lothian and Borders CJA and Board for the development
of the protocol to assist young people to move back into society following their time in prison.
It was highlighted that any progress made while in custody was short lived on release unless
continued on release. The Scottish Prison Service embraced the aim of the protocol and Mr
McConnell pledged to work with everyone to improve the general wellbeing and chances of Young
People leaving prison. The protocol drew from positive best practice for young people under 18
years and allowed all young people the opportunity for a planned release linked to services.
It was important to gain the trust of young people and to be committed to improving their chances
once released. The protocol was about Young People not process and there were vital community
based organisations who kept in touch with young people whilst in prison and these must integrate
with each other. It was important to build on the Polmont Model which was set up around Case
Workers. The protocol was a welcome addition to through care services and identifying the needs
of the young person. Polmont was working to radically change meaningful learning and training
opportunities to help the young person to integrate back into society. Motivating and engaging with
prisoners was key to keeping them from re-offending and the role of the personal officer was being
developed. Education Scotland would provide literacy, numeracy and general education within
Polmont to be continued on release. Feedback from the Young people would help to identify what
they needed. The journey would take some time but would work to get it right for Young People
and learn along the way. Young people needed help to build a new life and not to re-offend.
MARGARET BREWER, MIDLOTHIAN COUNCIL
The Chief Officer introduced Margaret Brewer, Service Manager, Criminal Justice, Midlothian
Council who had chaired the Working Group and had invested a lot of work over a two year period
to the development of the Protocol.
Margaret Brewer explained that Scotland had one of the highest rates of custody in Europe and
many offenders went to prison multiple times - half of offenders given custody in 2006/07 had
been to prison before more than 3 times and one in six had been to prison more than ten times.
The Scottish Prisons Commission talks of a ‘life by instalments’.
The situation for Young Offenders was worse still where under 21s were most likely to be
reconvicted and 54% were reconvicted within 2 years. Rates for those imprisoned together were
higher still and the Christie commission highlighted the problems of re-offending.
In terms of the cost it was expensive and did little to reduce reoffending. One young person in
secure care for one year could cost local authority c£260k and one year in custody could cost
c£32k. 87% of those in HMYOI Polmont had been there before. Community payback was a much
cheaper option.
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It was explained that most prisoners were on short sentences and as such did not pose harm to
the public. 83% of sentences in 2005/06 were for 6 months or less and 57% were for 90 days or
less. A Prisoner on a short sentence was eligible for voluntary (not statutory) throughcare support,
however the uptake was low. There were 9000 liberations in 2010/11 from sentences of under 4
years and only 997 people asked for voluntary assistance on release, research indicated that
throughcare support could help prevent further offending and therefore needed a higher profile.
There were two main things which made a difference – the chance of treatment in prison being
effective improved by nature, quality and length of support on release and co-ordination and
integration of services in prison and those in the community which need to work together.
It was further explained that, building from research, a case management approach involving a
‘Lead Officer’ would be responsible for the person being released and would meet them within 6
days of being released. An assessment of need for re-integration support would be completed as
soon as possible after being released from Polmont along with the development of a CIP. There
would be engagement with prison and community based services and the young person’s needs
reviewed prior to release and on-going support in the community with links to Whole System
Approach for 16/17 years olds with a consistent and systematic approach to planning, assessment
and decision making.
Measuring if the Protocol helped: If re-offending by Young people leaving custody was reduced.
 If the number of young people returning to custody was reduced
 If engagement of voluntary throughcare had increased.
Successful implementation depended on young people receiving the right help at the right time
which in turn depended on effective partnership working by all of the agencies which had
supported the development of the Protocol. It was highlighted that the Protocol did not create
relationships and co-ordinator time would be required to ensure relationships were created. The
Chief Officer thanked Margaret for her leadership of the Working Group.
Scotland has one of highest rates
of custody in Europe
Many offenders go to prison multiple
times
• Luxembourg 167
• Spain 144
• England &Wales 144
• Half of offenders given custody in 2006/07 had
been to prison before 3+ times
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• One in six had been to prison more than ten
times
• Scotland 141
Netherlands 128
Portugal 122
Austria 105
Germany 93
Belgium 91
Greece 86
France 85
• The Scottish Prisons Commission talk of a ‘life
by instalments’
*Imprisonment rates for selected EU and other countries 2005/6 per 100,000 total population
It’s expensive and does little to reduce
reoffending
For young offenders worse still
• One young person in secure care for one year
can cost local authorities c£260k
• Under 21s most likely to be reconvicted
• 54% reconvicted within 2 years
• One year in custody – c£32k
• Rates for those imprisoned together higher still
• 87% of those in HMYOI Polmont have been
there before
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Most prisoners on short sentences
Low uptake of voluntary throughcare
• 83% of sentences 2005/06 for 6 months
or less
• 9000 liberations in 2010/11 from sentences of
under 4 years
• 57% for 90 days or less
• Only 997 people asked for voluntary assistance
on release
• Eligible for voluntary (not statutory)
throughcare support
• Research indicates that throughcare support can
help prevent further offending
How will the Protocol work?
What works best?
• Building from research – case management
approach involving a ‘Lead Officer’
• Assessment of need for reintegration support soon
after coming into Polmont and development of a CIP
• Engagement with prison and community based
services and needs reviewed prior to release
• On-going support in the community
• Links to Whole System Approach for 16/17 year olds
with a consistent and systematic approach to
planning, assessment and decision making
Two main things make a difference –
1.Chance of treatment in prison being effective
improved by nature, quality and length of support
on release;
2.Co-ordination & integration of services in prison
and those in the community.
How will we know if the Protocol
helps?
Successful implementation depends…
• If re-offending by young people leaving custody
is reduced
• On young people receiving the right help at the
right time
• If the number of young people returning to
custody is reduced
• And that depends on effective partnership
working by all of the agencies who have
supported the development of the Protocol
• If engagement of voluntary throughcare
increases
KARYN MCLUSKEY, VRU
The Chief Officer introduced Karyn McClusky, Director of the Violence Reduction Unit, Police
Scotland. Karyn said that services must be solution focused and can not solve the problems and
had been a problem since the 20th Century and needed services for the 21st century we have no
idea about the problems which these people face. Should look at other countries and what they do
for their young people - Finland invest fully in their young people:

Jail those people we are frightened off not mad at;

Mandatory help rather than voluntary;

Victims and Offenders are not altogether separate Groups;

Introduction of a One Stop Number – all services behind that number;

Share information with services being available 24 hours a day;

Core Mentoring – A Good Male Role Model;
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
Redemption – we have a habit of always saying you will never amount to anything – people
leaving prison want the same things as everyone else – nice home, a car, a family, a job.

People deserve a second chance.
STEPHEN MUIR
Karyn then introduced Stephen Muir whom she had been working with for about 12 months.
Stephen explained that he had never known his father and was brought up by his mother. Stephen
had been close to an uncle, who had been his role model and his early years had been uneventful.
Stephen’s uncle had then died and it was at that point that things started to go wrong for Stephen.
In order to cope with his grief, Stephen had started drinking every day and had been convicted
twice – first time for 17 months and the second time for 32 months.
He was released from Polmont in December 2011 and had not been back inside since. Stephen
had visited the Edinburgh Tattoo and had completed a 4 week training course with flying colours
and was in the process of joining the army. Ian Murray (Violence Reduction Unit) had worked with
Stephen as his mentor for approximately 18 months and explained that there were many young
people in the same situation as Stephen and the biggest challenge was getting the young people
into jobs because their conviction was a barrier.
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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Marina Shaw (Circle) – Redemption – learn from silos - Circle of Care - teach family to be better
mentors - could this be incorporated because once professionals leave there needs to be support
from the Family if possible?
Ian Murray – Valid point and have been working with the families of 6 young people – Stephen to
become a mentor on the 2013 programme – once someone within a family has achieved it helps
the other family members believe that it is possible.
Alan Staff (Apex) – Blanket for disclosures is costing a huge amount of money and puts young
men on scrap heap.
Margaret Brewer – Can not change Disclosure process but need to work round it.
Karyn McCluskey – If a young person has not re-offended within 4 years then offences are no
more a predictor for them, than anyone else.
Ian Murray – Stephen was turned down for the army because of his convictions and a tear drop
which he had had tattooed onto his face following the death of his uncle. Because of a reference
from a Brigadier following his 4 wk training course and the fact that he had his tattoo removed he
was now the 1st person in Scotland to be accepted into the army with a conviction.
Joe Connolly (Venture Trust) – a real depth to change their lives – a lot of confidence when in a
group or a gang – need to build confidence so that young people can sell themselves.
Karyn McClusky– Teach them to look others in the face and make eye contact – get their teeth
fixed.
Andy Forrester (Glasgow City Council) – We need to get better at stopping young people going
into system – very difficult to break once in the system – keep them out and work with them.
Janine McGowan (City of Edinburgh) – In the present system some young people are put on
remand and left without support, they need to be convicted to get any help, this time is wasted
when we could be working with the Young Person right from the start.
Karyn- Changing the Norm. A New York court sentenced offenders to finding work and required
them to report to the court once per month to update on their progress.
Neil Fraser (Polmont) – Employer Event to bring them into Polmont and educate employers.
Margaret Brewer – Need to get private sector in and push the idea.
Marina Shaw (Circle) –Society talks about second chances but these young people did not get a
first chance. Finnish model very good – try our best but these people come form deprived area.
Karen McClusky – Finland have Invested in their Young people – they turn out the best people for
society and because of that they are high achievers.
Alan Staff (Apex) Inclusion work – addressing soft skills getting them back to school and engaging
– common sense but not being funded.
Donna Lawrie (Caledonia Youth) – Relationships with Young People – respect and life chances.
Children as young as 3/4 years old seeing what is happening within their home and we need to
work with them. Give people a chance.
Linda Irvine (NHS Lothian) – Feeling inspired – we need to nurture and not be so judgemental.
Margaret Berwer – The size of Scotland it is possible.
During discussion the following points were raised:-
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


Often the case that Young People leaving prison wanted to work but they needed help to
achieve this;
Investigate the reasons why employers were not employing people with criminal
convictions;
Re-inforce the services available but they were designed for 1972 and not 2013 - a lot been
done to take forward but need more radical action;
Must create confident individuals with aspirations – Parenting and peer support working
with partners to help the young people achieve this;
‘Navigators’ were required to navigate young people through life;
A Criminal Conviction was a barrier to getting a job but not the only barrier.
The Chief Officer thanked the speakers for their excellent presentations and advised that the next
CJA workshop being held on 22 August 2013 would be on ‘Families affected by imprisonment’
Participants were advised that a note of the workshop would be circulated after the next meeting of
the CJA.
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FEEDBACK FROM ATTENDEES
What should we stop doing?
Old fashioned plans out of date practices
need to be addressed
Giving up, having
negative/defeatist
attitude
Current un-coordinated
partnership response.
What should we keep doing?
Hope,
Desistance and
Violence
Reduction
Being Inspirational,
motivated and working
better together
Addressing
community needs
Learning and
Innovation
workshops
prepare for
employment
Believing in
Young People
Realise Importance of
and its relationship
with hope, desistance
and violence
reduction
What should we start doing?
‘Work with People’
STOP - doing things TO the
Community
START – Doing things WITH
the Community
Make a difference
Find what makes the difference in
choice for a young offender on
release deciding to engage with
an Employability Service such as
Barbardo’s Works
Implement protocol.
Apply approach to other
groups or all who come
through prison.
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