Lesson 28: 1900-present punishment of young people

• What has been the focus of punishment for young people since 1900?

  Reform, rehabilitation, education, and crime prevention
• Why did attitudes towards young offenders change after 1900?

  Belief in early reform preventing future crime
• What were Borstals established for?

  To reform younger/teenage boys
• What was the routine like in Borstals?


  Strict with jobs, education, and exercises
• What was the aim of Borstals?

  To emphasize education and reform, not punishment
• What was the success rate of boys reoffending in the 1980s?

  About 30%
• What happened to Borstals in 1982?

  They were abolished and changed to Youth Custody Centres
• What was the Criminal Justice Act 1948 aimed at?

  Improving the welfare of young offenders
• What new facilities were introduced after the Criminal Justice Act 1948?

  Youth Detention Centres and Attendance Centres
• What was the purpose of Attendance Centres?

  To provide education and skills sessions
• When were Youth Offenders Institutions established?

  Since 1988
• Why are courts hesitant to send young people to prison?

  To keep them away from adult criminals
• What issues have been reported in Youth Offenders Institutions?

  Violent attacks, drug use, and behavior problems
• What was the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 focused on?

  Preventing young offenders from going to prison
• What specific courts were established by the Children and Young Persons Act 1969?

  Juvenile Courts
• What was raised to 10 by the Children and Young Persons Act 1969?

  The age of criminal responsibility
• What was the punishment for Edward in 1854 for minor theft?

  Sent to prison and solitary confinement
• What was the outcome of Edward's punishment?

  He hung himself after 2 months
• What are the non-custodial sentences available today for young offenders?

  • School and youth centre talks by police
  • Fines for parents
  • Electronic tagging
  • Community Service
  • Restorative Justice
  • Drug and alcohol treatment programmes
  • Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO)
• What is the purpose of restorative justice?

  To discuss the crime's impact with the victim
• What is an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO)?

  A court restriction on a youth offender
• What is the aim of drug and alcohol treatment programmes for young offenders?

  To address addiction problems causing crimes
• How were young offenders treated before 1900?

  They were treated like adults
• What roles do probation officers and social workers play in the 1969 Act?

  Help young people avoid prison sentences
• How did the Derek Bentley case influence juvenile justice reforms?

  It highlighted the need for better treatment of young offenders
• What is the difference between Youth Detention Centres and Borstals?

  Youth Detention Centres have a less strict routine
• What educational programs are offered in Attendance Centres?

  Education and skills sessions, drug and alcohol treatment
• What are the long-term effects of non-custodial sentences on youth crime rates?

  They may reduce recidivism and promote rehabilitation
• What role does community service play in the rehabilitation of young offenders?

  It provides supervised work for minor offences
• How effective is electronic tagging in monitoring youth offenders?

  It helps track movements of problem youth offenders
• What criteria must be met to impose an ASBO on a youth offender?

  Specific restrictions on behavior and location