Young offenders holiday camp

[joeluke]

http://www.thesun.co....eens-luxury-home.html

Fully equiped gym, heated swimming pool, juice bar, computers, games consoles, sports hall

Is this a correctional centre for youngsters who have committed serious crimes?

.........or is it Butlins?

Being incarcerated for serious crimes should be a punishment and they should have access to none of these facilities, how can places like this be a deterrent when they have things that many law abiding youngsters can't afford to have?

[ummmm]

Do they also have access to rehabilitation and education?

[joeluke]

Probably no time for that ummmm, they'll be far too busy playing games, working out, swimming etc

[LoftyLottie]

They need sports facilities, sports halls, computers, etc. (Not sure about juice bars). If you shut them away with none of these things how are they going to learn to socialise properly and fit in with the outside world when they come out.

The punishment is being shut away. However, for a lot of these kids it will be the first time they have had any discipline or structure in their lives and hopefully, it will help them.

They need a change to be rehabilitated and educated.

What would you do - shut them up to become more frustrated and angrier and then let them loose again to take out their anger on the outside world?

And no I am not a yoghurt knitting lefty!!

[ummmm]

Well if it's anything like the young offenders I worked with in a secure psychiatric unit, who had access to all the things you mention above, it's still all time tabled. The emphasis was on counselling, rehabilitation and education.

[ummmm]

Well said Lottie.

[LoftyLottie]

Should have said 'They need a chance'

Thanks ummmm.

[joeluke]

They don't NEED sports facilities, exercising without equipment is easy to do

They don't NEED computers, pens, paper, books are sufficient for learning

[jackthehat]

They can't eat gruel, too, to keep the hunger pangs at bay............

[milly143]

I don't think there is anything wrong with them having some sports facilities. Excercise is good for body and mind. Perhaps the computers are there to provide education, in preperation for their release so I would also think that's a good idea.

Whilst you can initially think that this is all wrong and they are getting for free what the rest of us work hard to pay for, these are young people who have gone seriously wrong somewhere in life, for some reason and although they should of course be punished for their crimes, they should also be helped to transform themselves for the better. These may just be tools to achieve this.

[ChuckFickens]

"They don't NEED computers, pens, paper, books are sufficient for learning"

Where are they going to get a job when they are released without any IT skills. Computers are an essential part of learning and an essential thing to learn these days.

[ummmm]

They do need computers in this world of technology.

It's not just education in the three R's that they need.

[sara3]

there is no internet access from a prison.

[joeluke]

^ 'Where are they going to get a job when they are released without any IT skills?'

Who is going to employ someone with a serious criminal record anyway?

[jackthehat]

It is due, in part, that people are reluctant to employ people with a any sort of criminal record, that people end up with 'serious' criminal records.....

[YT52]

It's not Butlins but yes some are offered degree courses and others a trade apprenticeship that they may choose to continue after their release.
That's not always available to some juveniles and it would seem to be a better option now than the Mickey Mouse Youth Training Scheme circa '86-'87 that paid £27.30 and amounted to little more than slave labour.
Does make you think...

[LoftyLottie]

Put them in a cell then with a few books, pens and paper and let them march around in a prison yard and do keep fit exercises. That will really prepare them and re-educate them to cope with today's life.

Do you think what you re suggesting is going to make them mend their ways!! These are children and teenagers we are talking about - they still have a good chance of being responsible, law abiding adults. Most of them come from backgrounds where they don't stand a chance.

[Sqad]

These "young offenders" are no mugs and are "streetwise" and IT competent BEFORE they enter prison (and that is what is is despite more acceptable labels).

Yes, exercise is important, but remove from them the things that they value most........e.g.freedom to act however they want.

[LoftyLottie]

Well that is it really Sqad - they are not free to do whatever they want whenever they want. They are locked up - that is the punishment bit.

[joeluke]

L......one of the boys who murdered James bulger will have had access to all of these cushy facilities

Hasn't he re-offended since release?

the holiday camp prepared him well then don't you think?