Beyond Youth Custody (BYC) has released a new narrative literature review today highlighting how resettlement can significantly reduce the reoffending of young people leaving custody. It explores how the needs of young people can be effectively addressed when services receive sufficient investment and collaboratively work together with the secure estate. The review also highlights some emerging principles of effective practice and sets out the under-researched areas and unanswered questions that should steer future research.
Beyond Youth Custody is a five year, England-wide youth justice research and evaluation programme. Led by Nacro and funded by the Big Lottery Fund, it aims to improve outcomes for young people leaving custody. Academic institutions ARCS, the University of Salford and the University of Bedfordshire are also partners. The programme will compare and contrast models of service delivery and engage with key stakeholders to raise awareness of best practice, influence policy decisions and bring about lasting change in practice.
BYC’s website has also been launched today and will act as a forum for engaging practitioners and policy makers in debate about the programme’s findings and practice implications. It will also provide an online hub for publishing findings of the research as well as programme updates, information and resources about resettlement, news and details of events.
Nacro chief executive, Paul McDowell, said:
‘Over the last decade, there has been a decline in youth custody rates, but reoffending rates remain extremely high for young offenders leaving custody - 73% reoffend within 12 months of being released. We must do more to break the destructive cycle of crime that some young people fall into and struggle to get out of.
‘Beyond Youth Custody brings together a wealth of knowledge and experience from these different partners. Together we will challenge, advance and promote better thinking, and ensure that young people are supported in their transition from custody to their community and are finally able to put their offending behind them.’
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