Salma Yaqoob

Too many of our young people are being locked up for non-violent offences. And for many, once they do jail time, it can mark the beginning of a life long engagement with the criminal justice system. The authors of a new report argue that 'prison makes it more likely for a young person to reoffend, be unemployed and live in poverty'. They propose alternatives that reduce instances of reoffending while saving taxpayers money. 'Sending a child to prison now costs £140k a year, far more than a place at Eton. £60 million could be saved through a move to more local justice.'   It is well worth a read.