Carolyne Willow BASPCAN Congress 2015

1. Sent Down To Suffer
Carolyne Willow
BASPCAN Congress 2015

2. Article 39
Convention on the Rights of the Child
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to
promote physical and psychological recovery and social
reintegration of a child victim of: any form of neglect,
exploitation, or abuse … Such recovery and
reintegration shall take place in an environment which
fosters the health, self-respect and dignity of the
child.

3. Children who are locked up
Characteristic %
Belongs to a minority ethnic group 41
Has a disability 19
Been in local authority care 33
Emotional or mental health problems 23
Problems with drugs when first arrived 37
Problems with alcohol when first arrived 8
Aged 14 or younger when last at school 38
Ever excluded from school 88
Has children of their own 11
HM Inspectorate of Prisons & Youth Justice Board (2014) Children in custody
2013–14. An analysis of 12–18-year-olds’ perceptions of their experiences in
secure training centres and young offender institutions

4. Children who are locked up
Characteristic Custody % All children %
Abuse in the family 39 16
Living in care 27 0.6
Ever run away 47 11
Death of parent and/or sibling 12 4
Jacobson, J., Bhardwa, B., Gyateng, T., Hunter, G. and Hough, M. (2010)
Punishing disadvantage. A profile of children in custody, London: Prison
Reform Trust

5. Child deaths in custody
34 children have died in custody since 1990
• 31 children died in young offender institutions
• 2 children died in secure training centres
• 1 child died in a secure children’s home

6. Child deaths in custody
Gareth Myatt
Died 19th April 2004
15 years old
Adam Rickwood
Died 8th August 2004
14 years old

7. Investigating child abuse in custody
• Emotional distress, self-harm and suicide
• Routine strip-searching, including as punishment
• Unlawful physical restraint, infliction of pain and broken bones
• Restricted family contact
• Hunger and other forms of neglect
• Cruel transportation
• Violence and intimidation
• Abuse allegations and access to ‘child protection’

8. WHY?

9. Investigating child abuse in custody
• Interviews
• Inspection reports
• Inquests and other legal proceedings
• Prisons and Probation Ombudsman investigations
• Serious case reviews
• Freedom of Information requests
• Parliamentary Questions
• Published research
• Leaked material

10. WHY?
• Belief that ‘real’ child abuse cannot happen in prisons
• Child protection and child welfare not core functions
• Child offenders can take care of themselves
• We want child offenders to suffer

11. Published by Policy Press, February 2015