The Children’s Commissioner has published a discussion paper on children in custody in England – Unlocking Potential: A Study of the Isolation of Children in Custody in England (October 2015, Children’s Commissioner).
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Unlocking Potential calls for a radical reform of the youth custody system to provide the environment and the approach needed to improve the outcomes and life chances of children in custody and to reduce reoffending. The report highlights the vulnerabilities of children in the secure estate, the high use of isolation and segregation (also known as solitary confinement) and its impact on children’s mental health.
Unlocking Potential is based on the research report, Isolation and Solitary Confinement of Children in the English Youth Justice Secure Estate (September 2015, Children’s Commissioner).