The Youth Custody 'Explosion': Damned Lies or Good Statistics?

Abstract

There is a widespread belief that custody has escalated markedly for the under-21 s since the Criminal Justice Act 1982. Andrew Bridges, SPO, Usk YCC reviews the evidence and suggests much of the published 'information' has been misleading. Is there really a new crisis or simply the continuation of a depressing trend?

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Nacro Bulletin , May 1984, quoting Home Office Statistical Bulletin 3/84

Home Office Statiscical Bulletin 2/85, Table 9, page 21 3. Ibid. Table 5, page 17

Calculated from Table 6, page 18

Tables 2 and 3, pages 14-15

Prison Statistics England and Wales 1983, Table 3.6, page 54

Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1983, Home Office 1984, Table 7 10