- NYHS home
- Wider needs
- Offenders and offending
National Youth Homelessness Scheme
Offenders and offending
Accommodation is a key issue for young people in the criminal justice system. Each year, 9,000 young offenders are placed in unsuitable accommodation, such as bed and breakfast or unsupervised tenancies (Audit Commission 2004) and around 15 per cent of young offenders have some form of housing need (Patel 2004).
Tackling this issue not only improves the young person's life chances but is an effective crime prevention measure. Providing stable housing can reduce re-offending rates by 20 per cent (Social Exclusion Unit 2002).
Both Youth Offending Teams (YOTs - working with those under 18) and probation trusts (18+) then have a key role in shaping housing options for young offenders, though ultimate statutory responsibility remains with the local authority.
In addition to the general principles and evidence throughout this site, there are some specific recommendations relating to accommodation for offenders, which are presented in this module. Successful schemes are those which are:
- Strategic; accommodation for young offenders is both a housing issue and a crime prevention issue, and must be prioritised by agencies focused on both. YOTs and Probation Trusts are catalysts for ensuring suitable accommodation, rather than direct providers of services so require good working relationships, underpinned by formal protocols with housing departments
- Intensive; young offenders, particularly those leaving custody, are likely to have a wide range of additional needs, and to be seeking support from a position of crisis. Services may need to be able to provide fairly intensive support during these initial periods, before looking at longer term needs
- Preventative; at the early stages of problems developing, preventative work such as mediation or family group conferencing can be effective at reducing the risk of homelessness and of offending. Young offenders report feeling happier and more secure, as well as achieving better outcomes, when they can remain within the family home. A joint approach to prevention can therefore be particularly effective
- Carefully located; young offenders should be accommodated through mainstream locations rather than segregated in groups with other offenders. Housing location should take account of personal history, local crime levels and access to other services
(researched and written by Rainer)
Tools Additional resources Case studies
