The Howard League for Penal Reform welcomes the appointment of
Charlie Taylor as Chair of the Youth Justice Board, announced
today (Friday 24 February) by the Ministry of Justice.
Ministers have also announced that the Youth Justice Board (YJB)
will be reorganised, with the new HM Prison and Probation Service
running both youth custody operations and contract management
under a distinct Youth Custody Service, with commissioning for
youth custody moved to within the Ministry of Justice.
The YJB will continue to provide independent scrutiny of the
whole system, promoting early intervention in the community and
sharing best practice across the system.
Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns of the Howard
League for Penal Reform, said: “We
welcome the appointment of Charlie Taylor as Chair of the Youth
Justice Board, even if that organisation is shorn of many of its
responsibilities in this latest announcement.
“There is certainly a case for change. The Youth Justice Board
has recently overseen the abuse scandal at Medway secure training
centre and declining safety levels in children’s prisons across
the country. A more clearly defined role based on driving
improvement across the system may well allow the agency to
refocus itself.
“Yet it is far from clear why this means a prison service already
in crisis should be given more responsibility for some of the
most vulnerable children in the country. The Howard League will
scrutinise these plans in detail over the coming months and will
continue to push for radical changes in the way we deal with
children in trouble with the law.”
