MALE YOUNG OFFENDERS 2013 - Scottish Prison Service · young offenders were critical of the size of...

MALE YOUNG

OFFENDERS 2013

14th

Survey Bulletin

Research, Strategy and Innovation

Shirley McCoard, Róisín Broderick & James Carnie

December 2013

http://dc1-hv-intranet1/wordpress/

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Relationships & Atmosphere

Relationships between young offenders and

staff were reported as particularly favourable

by respondents. A high percentage of young

offenders responding to the Survey described

their relationship with prisoners in their hall

(96%) and officers in their hall (91%) in

positive terms. Atmosphere in the prison

generally was also rated highly by young

offenders (91%).

Food

Young offenders held mixed views on food in

prison, as did their adult counterparts. The

majority (83%) expressed satisfaction with

the timing of meals (82% adults). However,

young offenders were critical of the size of

the portions with 56% (50% adults) reporting

that these were either ‘fairly bad’ or ‘very

bad’. Half of young offenders (47%) and

adults (50%) were content with the condition

of the food when they got it and the choice of

menu (54% young offenders; 60% adults).

Cleanliness

Eight in ten young offenders rated the level of

cleanliness in their hall (84%) and cleanliness

of the showers (81%) as ‘ok’, ‘fairly good’ or

‘very good’. Three quarters of respondents

commented positively on the cleanliness of

the toilet area (74%).

Fitness

When asked how many times a week

prisoners have at least 30 minutes of moderate

exercise, a third (33%) said two to four times

per week (25% adults), and a quarter (23%)

said five or more times per week (57%

adults). With reference to recreation, 64%

said that they have recreation 3 to 5 times per

week (15% adults), with 24% stating that they

have recreation more than five times per week

(52% adults).

Healthcare

Significantly fewer young offenders reported

accessing doctors (53%) compared to adults

(83%). Eight in ten (80%) young offenders

rated the quality of healthcare in their prison

positively (compared to 59% adults).

Mental health & well-being

Prisoners were asked questions on mental

health by way of an instrument known as the

Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being

Scale (WEMWBS). Almost eight in ten

young offenders reported that they had ‘been

able to make up my own mind about things’

(79%), ‘been thinking clearly’ (75%), ‘energy

to spare’ (74%), and had ‘been dealing with

problems well’ (73%).

Under half of young offenders said they had

been ‘feeling loved’ (48%), ‘feeling close to

other people’ (47%), and had been ‘feeling

interested in other people’ (42%).

Hepatitis C

A third (34%) of young offenders who

responded to the survey had been tested for

Hepatitis in prison. Three quarters (75%) said

that they would take a Hepatitis C test if this

were offered to them in prison, and half

(48%) had been given information about

Hepatitis C while in prison.

Alcohol use

Two thirds (68%) of young offenders reported

being drunk at the time of their offence

(compared to 43% adults). One in five (21%)

reported that drinking affected their ability to

hold down a job and 44% admitted that their

drinking affected the relationship with their

family.

As many as 90% of young offenders stated

that they drink alcohol, with a quarter (25%)

doing so four or more times a week (21%

adults). On a typical day when they are

drinking, over half (54%) of prisoners said

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that they would drink 10 or more drinks

(compared to 42% adults).

Domestic Violence

When asked if young offenders ever

witnessed any violence between their

parents/carer as a child, 44% said that they

did. One in ten (12%) said that they have

been involved in violence towards their

spouse or partner and a minority (7%) had

been convicted of an offence. These figures

are lower than that of the adult population.

One in five (18%) of young offenders would

wish to access interventions/support services

which would help them with issues of

violence in the home.

Smoking

Three quarters of young offenders (75%)

reported that they smoked and half (54%) of

those reporting expressed a desire to give up

smoking. Three in ten (30%) said that they

had received advice on smoking and its

related health risks since coming into prison.

Drug use

Eight in ten (79%) young offenders reported

that they had used drugs in the 12 months

prior to coming into prison (compared to 60%

adults) and half (49%) were under the

influence of drugs at the time of the offence

(compared to 38% adults).

Four in ten (38%) said that they were assessed

for drug use on admission to prison

(compared to 47% adults). A quarter (27%)

said that they have been given the chance to

receive treatment for drug use during their

sentence, with 16% stating that they have

received treatment (compared to 28% adults).

Three in ten said that if they were offered help

for their drug problem on the outside (30%)

or in prison (34%) they would take it.

Contact with family and friends

Young offenders generally had regular

contact with their friends and family. Three

quarters reported positively regarding access

to family and friends (77%) and Family

Contact Officers (77%). Young offenders

were less content with the length of the visits

(48% compared to 74% of adult prisoners).

In care as a child

A third of young offenders (34%) reported

being in care as a child, compared to a quarter

of adult prisoners (26%). Almost a quarter of

young offenders (22%) were in care at the age

of sixteen compared to almost one fifth of

adult prisoners (17%).

Literacy & Numeracy

Around one fifth of young offenders reported

that they had difficulty with writing (22%),

reading (21%) and numbers (20%). Four in

ten young offenders (38%) said they attended

a learning centre in prison, compared to half

of adult prisoners (50%).

Safety

A fifth (20%, n=51) of young offenders

reported fearing for their safety in prison in

the last month (20% adult prisoners). Two

thirds stated that this was from a group of

prisoners (n=33) or another prisoner (n=32).

The most frequently cited areas where young

offenders said they feared for their safety

were corridors/stairwells (n=28) and the hall

generally (n=24).

Bullying

A small number of young offenders (14%,

n=36) reported being bullied in the month

before the survey (15% adult prisoners). The

most frequently reported bullying of young

offenders involved name calling (n=20) and

property (n=13).

Knife Crime

Two thirds of young offenders (67%) said that

they carried a knife, the highest percentage of

all the establishments, compared to 47% of

adult prisoners.

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Over a third (35%) of young offenders said

that they were a member of a gang, over four

times the figure for adult prisoners (8%).

Young People’s Activity Survey Summary

Time at school

Young offenders were asked to think back to

their time at school and relationships with

pupils and teachers. Six in ten (58%) young

offenders said that they had a ‘good’

relationship with other pupils compared to a

quarter (24%) who said that relationships with

teachers were ‘good’.

Three in ten (30%) said that they did not

enjoy school at all, with a similar number

stating that they attended school ‘most of the

time’ (31%). Over half (56%) said that they

were ‘often’ excluded from school and four in

ten (37%) said that they had ‘often’ attended a

Children’s Panel.

A quarter (25%) of young offenders had no

qualifications. Over half of young offenders

preferred to learn through sports (58%),

practical workshops (57%), and the internet

(53%).

Taking part in activities

Three quarters (76%) of young offenders

stated that they currently take part in a work

party, with four in ten stating they take part in

youth work (43%) or education (41%). Seven

in ten said they took part ‘to give me things to

do with my time’ (71%), with six in ten

stating it was to ‘improve my skills’ (62%) or

‘to learn new things’ (57%).

Half of those young offenders who said they

did not take part in activities (n=60) said it

was because ‘I don’t know what activities are

available for me’ (48%). More efforts,

therefore, could be made to inform young

people of the activities available to them in

Polmont. Almost two thirds of young

offenders said that ‘getting a reward or

privilege’ (63%) would encourage them to

take part in more activities in Polmont.

Half (51%) thought that their involvement in

activities would help them get a job, just

under half (44%) thought it would help them

go to school/college and just over half (55%)

thought it would improve their social/life

skills for work and living.

The future

Over three quarters cited that ‘getting a job’

(78%) was most likely to stop them offending

in the future, with almost two thirds stating

‘my own decision: it is up to me’ (64%).

Over half of those who responded said

‘staying off alcohol’ (57%), ‘having a partner’

(55%), or ‘getting a house/flat of my own’

(52%) would help.

Encouragingly, two thirds (64%) of young

offenders responded positively (i.e. ‘yes’ or

‘very likely’) when asked if they thought they

would be free from offending 2 years after

release. Additionally, almost two thirds

(64%) said that it was ‘very unlikely’ or that

they would ‘definitely not’ be back in

custody. While this is an encouragingly high

percentage, attention must also be drawn to

the 26% of young offenders who thought that

it is ‘possible’ that they will be back in

custody 2 years after release.

Nine in ten were positive that they would

have a partner (94%), a house/flat (89%), or a

job (88%) 2 years after release. Three

quarters thought that they would have a car

(78%), be in education/training (75%), or

have children (72%) in this time.

The 2013 prisoner survey and the young

people’s activity survey report on several

areas that would benefit from further

investigation. It appears young offenders

want to acquire skills and learn new things in

order to help them improve their social/life

skills and get a job in order to stop offending

in the future.

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YOUNG OFFENDERS PRISONER SURVEY 2013

Introduction

This Bulletin, which deals specifically with young male offenders held by the Scottish Prison

Service, is one of a number of thematic commentaries presenting the key findings from the 2013

Prisoner Survey. The Prisoner Survey was introduced to the Scottish Prison Service in 1990 as a

mechanism to inform and support the Service’s business planning process. The focus of the

Survey has expanded over the years.

The Survey continues to focus upon the core elements of prison life: living conditions, family

contact, healthcare, relationships, atmosphere and perceived safety. This year’s questionnaire

also introduced new topics on carrying a knife and on equality and diversity. The Survey

informs and shapes change by contributing to establishment and corporate business plans.

The Survey was carried out between May and July 2013 on an establishment-by-establishment

basis. Prisoners’ views were collected by means of a self-completion questionnaire, which was

distributed and collected personally by the members of the Survey team or by local staff. The

Survey involves all prisoners and all establishments.

The 14th

Survey achieved an overall prisoner response rate of 60%. A total of 267 male young

offenders participated in this survey, a response rate of 49%. One third (34%) of prisoners said that they were on remand at the time of completing the 2013

prisoner survey; 66% had been sentenced.

Respondents’ remand and custodial sentence history is outlined in Table 1. This shows that

young offenders were most likely to report having been on remand between 1 and 5 times (59%),

followed by having ‘never’ previously been on remand (27%).

Four in ten young offenders (37%) had ‘never’ previously served a prison sentence, while over

half (59%) had served between 1 and 5 sentences. As expected, a higher percentage of the adult

population had previously served a sentence 6-10 times (12%) and over 10 times (17%).

Table 1 Young offenders’ prison history

Never 1-5 times 6-10 times Over 10 times

Number of times previously on remand 27 59 12 3

Number of times previously on a sentence 37 59 2 1

Three quarters (74%) were serving short-term sentences1, with 27% serving long term sentences.

Table 2 shows the sentence length of those prisoners reporting in the survey. In comparison,

57% of the adult population said they were serving a short term sentence, with 43% serving long

term sentences.

1 Sentences less than 4 years

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Table 2 Sentence length

Up to 90 days 11 Over 4 yrs up to 10 yrs 21

Over 3 months up to 12 23 Over 10 years 3

Over 1 yrs up to 4 yrs 40 Life/WLT 3

Almost half of those reporting (44%) had served a sentence in the community (compared to 43%

adults) and one third of young offenders (34%) had received a custodial sentence as a result of

breaching a community sentence (compared to 27% adults).

Relationships & Atmosphere

Relationships between young offenders and staff were reported as particularly favourable by

respondents. A high percentage of young offenders responding to the Survey described their

relationship with prisoners in their hall (96%) and officers in their hall/dormitory (91%) in

positive terms. Equally good relations prevailed with vehicle staff (86%) and court staff (81%).

Atmosphere in the prison generally was also rated highly by young offenders (91%). This was

also reflected among the adult prisoners who responded to the survey.

Food

Young offenders held mixed views on food in prison, as did their adult counterparts. The

majority expressed satisfaction with the timing of meals with 83% (82% adults) reporting that

these were ‘ok’ or better. However, young offenders were critical of the size of the portions with

56% (50% adults) reporting that these were either ‘fairly bad’ or ‘very bad’. Half of young

offenders (47%) and adults (50%) were content with the condition of the food when they got it

and the choice of menu (54% young offenders; 60% adults).

Cleanliness

Eight in ten young offenders rated the level of cleanliness in their hall/dormitory (84%) and

cleanliness of the showers (81%) as ‘ok’, ‘fairly good’ or ‘very good’. In addition, seven in ten

respondents commented positively on the toilet area (74%). These figures are less positive when

compared to the 2011 results (Table 3).

Table 3 Cleanliness

2009 2011 2013 Adults

The cleanliness of your hall 92 93 84 81

The cleanliness of the toilet area 85 87 74 83

The cleanliness of the showers 87 89 81 78

The cleanliness of your cell when you first moved in 55 55 56 62

Young offenders were asked to rate the condition of their cell when they first moved into it. As

seen in Table 3 above, only 56% rated the condition of their cell positively. On a more positive

note, the majority of young offenders reported receiving clean bedding on a weekly basis (85%),

with 91% of adults stating this. Overall, young offenders held broadly similar views to adult

prisoners in relation to cleanliness.

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Hygiene & fitness

When asked how many times a week prisoners have at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise

(like brisk walking), 44% said one or less times per week (compared to 18% adults), a third

(33%) said two to four times per week (compared to 25% adults), and a quarter (23%) said five

or more times per week (compared to 57% adults). There is a clear difference here in terms of

the exercise undertaken by male young offenders and adults in other prisons.

When looking at gym attendance, 44% of young offenders did not go (43% adults), with 42%

stating that they go three or more times per week (42% adults).

With reference to recreation, 64% of respondents said they have recreation 3 to 5 times per week

(15% adults), 24% have recreation more than five times per week (52% adults) and 7% (17%

adults) did not go.

Healthcare

Young offenders were asked about their use of medical services while in their present prison.

Significantly fewer young offenders reported accessing doctors (53%) compared to eight in ten

adults (83%). Three quarters (72%) of young offenders attended the nurse (compared to 81%

adults) and one quarter (22%) were seen by the dentist (compared to 39% adults). A quarter

(26%) of young offenders were seen by mental health staff (compared to 27% adults). A small

number (7%) of young offenders had visited an optician (compared to 19% adults). Eight in ten

(80%) young offenders rated the quality of healthcare in their prison positively (compared to

only 59% of adults).

Mental health & well-being

Prisoners were asked questions on mental health by way of an instrument known as the

Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) (see Table 3). Around three

quarters of young offenders reported that they had ‘been able to make up my own mind about

things’ (79%), ‘been thinking clearly’ (75%), ‘energy to spare’ (74%), and had ‘been dealing

with problems well’ (73%).

Under half of young offenders said they had been ‘feeling loved’ (48%), ‘feeling close to other

people’ (47%), and had been ‘feeling interested in other people’ (42%).

Overall young offenders and adult prisoners mental health appears similar, although there are

clear distinctions in terms of ‘feeling useful’, ‘feeling interested in other people’, ‘feeling close

to other people (Table 4).

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Table 4 Mental health & well-being

Hepatitis C

A third (34%) of young offenders who responded to the survey had been tested for Hepatitis in

prison. Three quarters (75%) would take a Hepatitis C test if this were offered to them in prison

and half (48%) had been given information about Hepatitis C while in prison.

Drug use

Eight in ten (79%) young offenders reported they had used drugs in the 12 months prior to

coming into prison (compared to 60% adults).

Table 5 below shows a 3 year comparison of young offenders’ drug use at the time of their

offence. Half (49%) were under the influence of drugs at the time of the offence (compared to

38% adults) and one in ten (10%) committed their offence to get money to buy drugs (16%

adults). A third (36%) indicated their drug taking was a problem for them on the outside (34%

adults). One in ten (9%) were receiving treatment for drug use before their imprisonment

(compared to 21% adults). These statistics show that while drug taking (including being under

the influence of drugs at the time of their offence) is a problem for young offenders, few of them

were receiving treatment before their imprisonment.

Table 5 Drug use at time of offence

2009 2011 2013 Adults

My drug taking was a problem for me on the outside 35 35 36 34

I was under the influence of drugs at the time of my offence 52 54 49 38

I committed my offence to get money for drugs 7 9 10 16

I was receiving treatment for my drug use before my

imprisonment 8 6 9 21

Young Offenders Adults

I’ve been feeling optimistic about the future 67 70

I’ve been feeling useful 54 63

I’ve been feeling relaxed 67 72

I’ve been feeling interested in other people 42 57

I’ve had energy to spare 74 69

I’ve been dealing with problems well 73 78

I’ve been thinking clearly 75 79

I’ve been feeling good about myself 66 71

I’ve been feeling close to other people 47 57

I’ve been feeling confident 69 71

I’ve been able to make up my own mind about things 79 86

I’ve been feeling loved 48 54

I’ve been interested in new things 67 68

I’ve been feeling cheerful 66 70

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Drug use in present prison in the last month

A quarter (28%) of young offenders said that they had ever used illegal drugs in prison, down

from 44% in 2011 (and compared to 39% adults), and one in five (22%) had used illegal drugs in

the last month while in prison (28% adults). A minority of young offenders (3%, n=7) said had

ever injected drug in prison, with only a few (1%, n=3) stating that they had done so in the last

month.

Almost two thirds (63%) reported their drug use has changed during their current period in

prison, with three quarters (72%) stating that it had decreased. Only one in ten (9%) said that

they were sharing their cell with a drug user. These percentages are similar for the adult

population.

Three in ten (30%) young offenders said that if they were offered help for their drug problem on

the outside, they would take it, with 34% stating if they were offered help in prison they would

take it (an increase of 8% from 2011 for both figures). Sixteen per cent of young offenders were

worried that drug taking would be a problem when they get out. Four in ten (38%) were

assessed for drug use on admission to prison (compared to 47% adults). A quarter (27%)

reported they had been given the chance to receive treatment for drug use during their sentence,

with 16% stating that they had received treatment (compared to 28% adults). This can be seen in

Table 6.

Percentages for young offenders being offered, assessed and undertaking drug treatment is

considerably lower when compared to the adult population. Interestingly, however, this may be

because the numbers of young offenders who said they would ‘take’ help if it was offered to

them inside or outside prison was far less than the adult population.

Table 6 Drug treatment

2009 2011 2013 Adults

If I was offered help for my drug problem on the

outside, I would take it 28 22 30 40

If I was offered help or my drug problem in prison, I

would take it 33 26 34 42

I am worried that my drug taking will be a problem when

I get out 16 13 16 21

I was assessed for drug use upon my admission to prison 45 41 38 47

I have been given the chance to receive treatment for

drug use during my sentence 34 27 27 33

I have received help/treatment for drug use during my

sentence 24 17 16 28

Alcohol use

Prisoners were asked a number of questions about alcohol use/dependency inside and outside

prison. Two thirds (68%) of young offenders reported being drunk at the time of their offence

(compared to 43% adults). Despite this being a welcome decrease of 10% from the 2011 and

2009 figures, it is still a significantly higher percentage when compared to adult prisoners.

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One in five (21%) reported that drinking affected their ability to hold down a job and 44%

admitted drinking affected their relationship with their family (compared to 21% and 33% adults,

respectively).

Almost half (46%) of young offenders said that if they were offered help for alcohol problems in

prison they would take it. Similarly, two in five (42%) reported that if they were offered help for

alcohol problems on the outside, they would take it. A quarter (27%) were worried that alcohol

would be a problem for them when they are released from prison. This, and a comparison with

adults, can be seen in Table 7.

Only a minority (4%) of prisoners had used alcohol in the last month while in prison. A quarter

(28%) were assessed for alcohol use on their admission to prison (down from 44% in 2011) and

36% had been given the chance to receive treatment for alcohol problems during their sentence

(down from 47% in 2011). One in five (19%) had received help/treatment for alcohol problems

during their sentence (down from 32% in 2011). Of those who did receive treatment, 83% stated

they found it useful. As mirrored in the report for the prison population as a whole, the 2013

figures for young offenders report a drop in the percentage of prisoners being assessed for

alcohol, given the chance to receive treatment, and subsequently receiving treatment since 2011.

Table 7 Young Offenders views on alcohol

2009 2011 2013 Adults

I was drunk at the time of my offence 78 78 68 43

My drinking affected my ability to hold down a job 31 25 21 21

My drinking affected my relationship with family 57 49 44 33

If I was offered help in Prison for alcohol problems I would

take it 52 52 46 41

If I was offered help on the outside for alcohol I would take it 42 43 42 39

I am worried that alcohol will be a problem for me when I get

out 26 24 27 20

Have you used alcohol in the last month while in this prison? 7 5 4 5

I was assessed for alcohol use on my admission to prison 40 44 28 33

I have been given the chance to receive treatment for alcohol

problems during my sentence 50 47 36 31

I have received help/treatment for alcohol problems during my

sentence 35 32 19 20

As part of the 2013 survey, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was

incorporated into the section asking prisoners about their alcohol use prior to going to prison.

Table 8 shows the responses to each of the 10 AUDIT questions. As many as 90% of prisoners

stated they drink alcohol, with a quarter (25%) doing so four or more times a week (compared to

21% adults). On a typical day when they are drinking, over half (54%) of prisoners said they

would drink 10 or more drinks (compared to 42% adults).

As many as 44% of young offenders reported they have six or more drinks on one occasion

weekly (compared to 22% adults), with a further 16% saying they would do this daily or almost

daily (18% adults). A third of young offenders (32%) reported when drinking on a weekly or

daily or almost daily basis, they found they were not able to stop drinking once they had started

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(compared to 23% adults). A quarter (24%) said that weekly or daily or almost daily they failed

to do what was normally expected of them because of their drinking (20% adults); 16% reported

they needed a first drink in the morning to get themselves going after a heavy drinking session

(15% adults); 23% had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking (21% adults); and 34% had

been unable to remember what happened the night before (20% adults) when drinking on a

weekly or daily or almost daily basis.

In the last year, 30% of young offenders stated they or someone else had been injured as a result

of their drinking, double the adult prisoners in this category (15%). A similar number (28%)

said a relative or friend or a doctor/health worker had been concerned about their drinking or

suggested that they cut down (compared to 18% adults).

These results highlight that there is a significant alcohol problem among young offenders, further

illustrated when the analysis for young offenders is compared with adult prisoners. While young

offenders may not drink much more frequently than adults, the amount they consume when they

do drink is far higher than their adult counterparts.

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Table 8 AUDIT

How often do you have a drink

containing alcohol?

Never Monthly or

less

2 to 4

times a

month

2 to 3

times a

week

4 or more

times a

week

10 13 17 36 25

How many drinks containing alcohol do

you have on a typical day when you are

drinking?

1 or 2 3 or 4 5 or 6 7, 8 or 9 10 or more

5 13 12 16 54

Never

Less than

monthly Monthly Weekly

Daily or

almost

daily

How often do you have six or more

drinks on one occasion? 12 12 17 44 16

How often during the last year have you

found that you were not able to stop

drinking once you had started?

60 3 5 18 14


failed to do what was normally expected

from you because of your drinking?

59 8 10 15 9


needed a first drink in the morning to

get yourself going after a heavy

drinking session?

75 5 5 7 9


had a feeling of guilt or remorse after

drinking?

59 9 8 10 13


been unable to remember what

happened the night before because you

had been drinking?

42 10 14 23 11

No

Yes, but not in the

last year

Yes, during the

last year

Have you or anyone else been injured as a result

of your drinking? 35 35 30

Has a relative or friend or a doctor/health worker

been concerned about your drinking or suggested

you cut down?

59 13 28

Domestic Violence

When asked if young offenders ever witnessed any violence between their parents/carer as a

child, 44% reported they had (compared to 41% adults). One in ten (12%) young offenders said

they have been involved in violence towards their spouse or partner (compared to 20% adults).

A minority (7%) of young offenders had been convicted of an offence involving violence

towards their spouse or partner (compared to 15% of adult prisoners). One in five (18%) young

offenders would wish to access interventions/support services which would help them with

issues of violence in the home (21% adults).

Smoking

Three quarters of young offenders (75%) reported they smoked and half (54%) of those reporting

expressed a desire to give up smoking (see Table 9 below). Almost half (47%) said they have

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tried to give up smoking in the last 12 months (compared to 39% adults). A third (33%) stated

they share their cell with a smoker.

Three in ten (30%) had received advice on smoking and its related health risks since coming into

prison (compared to 34% adults). A similar number had used a nicotine patch, gum or inhaler

before coming into prison (28%) or in prison (25%). Eight in ten (80%) had heard of electronic

cigarettes, 30% said they had used them, and 69% said they would use e-cigs if they were

available in prison.

Table 9 Smoking related issues in prison


Are you a smoker? 75 73

If yes, do you want to give up smoking? 54 61

Do you share your cell with a smoker? 33 35

Have you received advice on smoking & its related health risks

since coming into prison? 30 34

Have you tried to give up smoking in the last 12 months? 47 39

Have you ever used nicotine patch, gum or inhaler before

coming into prison? 28 32

Have you ever used nicotine patch, gum or inhaler in prison? 25 26

Have you ever heard of e-cigs (electronic cigarettes)? 80 72

Have you ever used e-cigs? 29 15

If e-cigs were available in prison would you use them? 69 69

Contact with family and friends

Contact with friends and family in the community is of vital importance to the majority of

prisoners and can impact on their quality of life and mental welfare. Table 10 illustrates that

young offenders had regular contact with their friends and family by letter (75%), by telephone

(87%), and contact through visits (66%). This was also reflected for adult prisoners, seen below

in Table 10.

Table 10 Contact with family & friends


No regular contact 6 11

Contact by letter 75 66

Contact by telephone 87 81

Contact by visits 66 61

Contact by home leave 2 6

Table 11 illustrates that three quarters of young offenders reported positively regarding access to

family and friends (77%) and Family Contact Officers (77%). Young offenders were less

content with the length of the visits (48% compared to 74% of adult prisoners). Aside from this,

young offenders and adult prisoners held broadly similar and positive views regarding visits.

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Table 11 Prisoners views on visits


Access to family and friends 77 85

Access to FCO in this prison 77 71

The length of visit 48 74

Ability to arrange visits 78 85

Facilities for children at visits 78 76

Facilities for disabled visitors 75 82

Timing of visits 77 79

Quality of visit 76 80

Respectful behaviour shown by staff in relation to visits 77 78

Bullying and Safety

A small number of young offenders (14%, n=36) reported being bullied in the month before the

survey (compared to 15% of adult prisoners). Numbers of those reporting what the bullying

involved are too small to make any meaningful conclusions, however, the most frequently

reported bullying of young offenders involved name calling (n=20) and property (n=13).

A fifth (20%, n=51) of young offenders reported fearing for their safety in prison in the last

month (20% adult prisoners). Again, response rates for this question are small, however, of

those who reported fearing for their safety, two thirds stated that this was from a group of

prisoners (n=33) or another prisoner (n=32). The most frequently cited areas where young

offenders said they feared for their safety were corridors/stairwells (n=28) and the hall generally

(n=24).

In Care as a child

A third of young offenders (34%) reported being in care as a child, compared to a quarter of

adult prisoners (26%). Almost a quarter of young offenders (22%) were in care at the age of

sixteen compared to almost one fifth of adult prisoners (17%).

Literacy & Numeracy

Four in ten young offenders (38%) said they attended a learning centre in prison, compared to

half of adult prisoners (50%). Two thirds of this group said that they attended art (64%),

literacy/numeracy (70%), and half said they had attended IT (45%).

Around one fifth of young offenders reported that they had difficulty with writing (22%), reading

(21%) and numbers (20%), compared to adult prisoners (16%, 12% and 13% respectively).

Knife Crime

Table 12 shows that two thirds of young offenders (67%) stated they carried a knife, the highest

percentage of all the establishments, and compared to 47% of adult prisoners. Half (47%) of

young offenders had carried a knife in the 12 months before coming into prison, almost double

adult prisoners (24%). Just over a third (35%) of young offenders said they were a victim of

knife crime and 40% had used a knife to injure someone.

16

Four in ten (39%) young offenders had been cautioned by the police for carrying a knife, 34%

stating they have been convicted of a knife crime. Four in ten (41%) also said if they were

cautioned for carrying a knife, that this would stop them.

Over a third (35%) of young offenders reported they were a member of a gang, over three times

the figure for adult prisoners (8%).

Table 12 Knife crime

Young

Offenders

Adults

Have you ever carried a knife? 67 47

Have you carried a knife in the 12 months before coming into prison? 47 24

Have you been a victim of knife crime? 35 39

Have you ever used a knife to injure someone? 40 36

Have you ever been cautioned by the Police for carrying a knife? 39 31

Have you ever been convicted of a knife crime? 34 37

If you were cautioned for carrying a knife would this stop you? 41 44

Are you a gang member? 35 8

When asked about their reason for carrying a knife, half of young offenders who did so said it

was for ‘self-defence’ (51%), a quarter said it was because they were a ‘gang member’ (24%), a

fifth said it was because they had ‘previously been threatened’ (20%) and ‘because other people

do’ (19%) and 16% said it was because they ‘don’t feel safe where I live’.

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POLMONT YOUNG PEOPLE’S ACTIVITY SURVEY 2013

A total of 250 young offenders housed in Polmont responded to the young people’s activity

survey. This is 49% of the number of prisoner surveys distributed to male young offenders in

Polmont.

Time at school

Young offenders were asked to think back to their time at school and relationships with pupils

and teachers. Six in ten (58%) young offenders reported they had a ‘good’ relationship with

other pupils, with a third (34%) stating that it was ‘ok’. Relationships with teachers were not

rated as positively, with only a quarter (24%) of young offenders saying relationships with

teachers were ‘good’, a third (35%) stating they were ‘ok’ and 41% saying relationships were

‘poor’. This can be seen in Table 13 below.

Table 13 Relationships

Good OK Poor

Relationships with other pupils 58 34 8

Relationships with teachers 24 35 41

While a quarter (25%) of young offenders enjoyed school ‘most of the time’, almost half (45%)

reported ‘sometimes’ and three in ten (30%) stated they did not enjoy school at all.

Subsequently, it is not surprising that only three in ten (31%) said they attended school ‘most of

the time’. Six in ten (59%) only attended school ‘sometimes’, with one in ten (10%) saying they

did not attend school at all. Of those who responded, 35% said they had attended a residential

school either ‘most of the time’ or ‘sometimes’. This can be seen in Table 14.

Table 14 Attendance at school

Most of the time Sometimes Not at all

I enjoyed school 25 45 30

I attended school 31 59 10

I attended a residential school 21 14 65

Table 15 shows that over half (56%) of young offenders said they were ‘often’ excluded from

school, with a third (33%) saying this ‘sometimes’ happened. Around four in ten (37%) young

offenders indicated they had ‘often’ attended a Children’s Panel, with a quarter (27%) saying

they had ‘sometimes’ attended a Panel.

Table 15 Exclusion from school

Sometimes Often Never

I was excluded from school 33 56 11

I attended a Children’s Panel 27 37 36

Table 16 details that a quarter (25%) of young offenders had no qualifications. Of those who

did, three quarters (72%) had standard grades, 17% had a college certificate and six per cent had

Highers.

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Table 16 Qualifications include:

Percentage of respondents

College certificate 17

Highers 6

Standard grades 72

None 25

Respondents were asked in what ways they prefer to learn. Table 17 details that over half of

young offenders preferred to learn through sports (58%), practical workshops (57%), and the

internet (53%).

Table 17 Young offenders prefer to learn things through:


Sports 58

Practical workshops 57

Internet 53

Projects 43

Group work 42

Individual tuition 40

Reading books 32

Art 29

Taking part in activities

Young offenders were asked about the activities they currently take part in and whether they

have ever taken part in activities. Work parties were the most frequently cited activity, with

three quarters (76%) stating they currently take part in a work party and eight in ten (80%)

stating they have at some point taken part in a work party. This can be seen in Tables 18 and 19

below.

Table 18 Young offenders currently take part in:


Work parties 76

Youth work 43

Education 41

Programmes 25

Table 19 In the past, the young offenders have taken part in:


Work parties 80

Youth work 62

Education 58

Programmes 45

When asked why they had taken part in these activities, seven in ten (71%) reported it was ‘to

give me things to do with my time’, with six in ten (62%) stating it was to ‘improve my skills’ or

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‘to learn new things’ (57%). Just over half said it was ‘to achieve a certificate or qualification’

(52%). Interestingly, less than half said it was ‘to help me not offend in the future’ (43%). A

full breakdown of the reasons for taking part can be found in Table 20.

Table 20 Young offenders took part in order:


To give me things to do with my time 71

Improve my skills 62

To learn new things 57

To achieve a certificate or qualification 52

To help me not offend in the future 43

To meet other people 32

Those young offenders who reported they did not take part in activities (n=60) were asked why

this was the case. Almost half of this group (48%) said it was because ‘I don’t know what

activities are available for me’. In the region of a fifth also stated that it was because ‘I don’t

want to mix with other people’ (22%), ‘I have applied but I haven’t been given a place’ (17%) or

that ‘I don’t think I would learn things that would be useful to me’ (17%). A full list of reasons

for not taking part in activities is detailed in Table 21.

Table 21 Young offenders did not take part in activities because:


I don’t know what activities are available for me 48

I have applied but I haven’t been given a place 17

I think the activities would be boring 12

I don’t think I would learn things that would be useful to me 17

I can’t be bothered to leave my room to attend 15

I’m afraid that I will not understand 12

The sessions are too long 12

I don’t get one to one support 15

I don’t want to mix with the other people 22

Those young offenders who have been involved in any education/work activity while in Polmont

were asked if they thought this would help them on release. Table 22 shows that half (51%)

thought that their involvement would help them get a job, just under half (44%) thought it would

help them go to school/college, and just over half (55%) thought it would improve their

social/life skills for work and living.

Table 22 If ever been involved in any education/work activity while in Polmont, will this

help on release:

Yes No Not involved

To get a job 51 32 18

To go to school/college 44 37 19

To improve my social/life skills for work and living 55 25 20

Young offenders were asked what might encourage them to take part in more activities in

Polmont. Almost two thirds said that ‘getting a reward or privilege’ (63%) would encourage

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them, with four in ten stating it was a ‘belief that they would be of practical value to me’ (41%)

or that they had ‘more information on what they are about’ (39%). A full list can be seen in

Table 23.

Table 23 What might encourage the young offender to take part in more activities in

Polmont:


Getting a reward or privilege 63

Belief that they would be of practical value to me 41

More information on what they are about 39

Other activities not currently available in Polmont 33

Help with my self-confidence 29

Encouragement from staff to take part 26

Belief that they will help me to address my offending 28

Encouragement from my family 17

The future

Young offenders were asked what they think is likely to stop them offending in the future. Over

three quarters cited ‘getting a job’ (78%), with almost two thirds stating ‘my own decision: it is

up to me’ (64%). Over half of those who responded said ‘staying off alcohol’ (57%), ‘having a

partner’ (55%), or ‘getting a house/flat of my own’ (52%) may stop them offending in the future.

Other responses are show in Table 24.

Table 24 What is likely to stop young offenders offending in the future:


Getting a job 78

My own decision: it is up to me 64

Staying off alcohol 57

Having a partner 55

Getting a house/flat of my own 52

Having good family relationships 49

Having something to do that isn’t crime 49

Staying off drugs 47

This sentence 42

Having children 41

Going to school/college 36

Making new friends outside 34

Qualifications or skills 34

Having someone you can ask for advice 31

Having a social worker 17

I’ve not been sentenced 17

Having a youth worker 13

Talking about my offending with staff 12

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Encouragingly, two thirds (64%) of young offenders responded positively (i.e. ‘yes’ or ‘very

likely’) when asked if they thought they would be free from offending two years after release,

with half (50%) stating more definitely ‘yes’. In addition to this, almost two thirds (64%) said

that it was ‘very unlikely’ or that they would ‘definitely not’ be back in custody. While this is an

encouragingly high percentage, attention must also be drawn to the 26% of young offenders who

thought that it is ‘possible’ that they will be back in custody two years after release.

Nine in ten were positive that they would have a partner (94%), thought that they would have a

job, have a house/flat (89%), or have a job (88%) two years after release. Three quarters thought

that they would have a car (78%), be in education/training (75%), or have children (72%) in this

time.

Table 25 Possible achievements 2 years after release:

Yes Very

likely

Possible Very

unlikely

Definitely

not

Be free from offending 50 14 25 8 4

Be in education/training 31 12 32 15 10

Have a job 48 14 26 7 4

Have a house/flat 44 15 30 8 2

Have a car 37 15 26 16 7

Have a partner 56 19 19 5 2

Have children 34 8 30 19 10

Be back in custody 2 8 26 24 40

Comment

Perhaps the most noticeable difference between young offenders and adults is the much higher

levels of drunkenness at the time of committing the offence. While four in ten adults (43%)

were drunk at the time of the offence, two thirds of young offenders (68%) reported inebriation

at the point of commission. While still very high, this is a 7% reduction on the 2011 result

(75%) and may represent the flattening out of an upward trend. The other observation to be

made with reference to alcohol, aided by the results of the young people’s activity survey, is the

link between the high numbers of young offenders who stated they used alcohol (90%) and who

have 10 or more drinks on a typical day when they are drinking (54%); and those who stated that

staying off alcohol is likely to stop them offending in the future (57%). Figures such as these are

consistent with other research on the drinking habits of young people in Scotland and highlight

the link between excessive drinking and offending, a link that young offenders themselves also

recognise.

There are some interesting trends to be observed though, one being in relation to the assessment,

provision and take-up of alcohol related services. Almost half of young offenders said they

would take help for alcohol problems if it was offered in prison (46%) or on the outside (42%).

However, service provision in this area appears to have diminished. Just over a quarter (28%)

were assessed for alcohol use on admission to prison (which is 16% down from 44% in 2011)

and 36% had been given the chance to receive treatment for alcohol problems during their

sentence (11% down from 47% in 2011). One in five (19%) had actually received

help/treatment for alcohol problems during their sentence (again, 13% down from 32% in 2011).

This may be a product of the transfer of responsibility and accountability for the delivery of

healthcare services in prisons to the NHS in November 2011. Prior to the NHS transfer, SPS had

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a national contract in place for the provision of an Enhanced Addiction Casework Service

(EACS) which provided an addictions assessment service together with a range of interventions

to meet assessed needs, including one-to-one and group work. Since transfer, Health Boards

have had a phased exit strategy in place for the termination of the EACS contract, which has now

ceased across Scotland. NHS Health Boards are currently progressing work to re-configure

addiction services towards community health models with a commitment that addiction services

provided in prison should be comparable to that available in the community. Emphasis is being

placed on recovery focused treatment options and improved throughcare services.

More young offenders than adults were worried that drink was having an adverse effect on

relationships with their families (44% young offenders; 33% adults), with both groups concerned

about alcohol impinging upon their ability to hold down a job (both 21%). In line with this, the

survey reported that getting a job (78%), staying off alcohol (57%), having a partner (55%), or

getting their own house or flat (52%) were recognised by young offenders as factors that would

be likely to stop them offending in the future. Encouragingly, nine in ten young offenders were

positive that they would have a partner (94%), house/flat (89%), or a job (88%) and three

quarters were confident they would be in education/training (75%) two years after release.

Two thirds (64%) of young offenders responded positively when asked if they thought they

would be free from offending 2 years after release. The same number (64%) reported it was

‘very unlikely’ or that they would ‘definitely not’ be back in custody. However, attention must

also be drawn to the 26% of young offenders who thought that it is ‘possible’ they will be back

in custody 2 years after release. Two thirds (64%) recognised that a key factor in to stopping

them offending in the future was their own decision – ‘it is up to me’. The implementation of

the current change agenda in Polmont, which is based on an asset building, desistance model,

should support young people in custody to make appropriate positive decisions of this nature.

Eight in ten (79%) young offenders reported they had used drugs in the 12 months prior to

coming into prison (compared to 60% adults) and half (49%) were under the influence of drugs

at the time of the offence (compared to 38% adults). A third (36%) said their drug taking was a

problem for them on the outside but only one in ten (9%) were receiving treatment before their

imprisonment (compared to 21% adults). Three in ten young offenders indicated if they were

offered help for their drug problem on the outside (30%) or in prison (34%), they would take it

(an increase of 8% from 2011 for both figures).

Sixteen per cent of young offenders were worried drug taking would be a problem when they get

out. Four in ten (38%) said they were assessed for drug use on admission to prison (compared to

47% adults). A quarter (27%) reported they had been given the chance to receive treatment for

drug use during their sentence, with 16% having received treatment (compared to 28% adults).

Percentages for young offenders being offered, assessed and undertaking drug treatment is

considerably lower when compared to the adult population. It has been noted that addiction

services have been transferred to NHS and the bedding-in of transitional arrangements might

explain this particular finding.

Two thirds of young offenders (67%) said they carried a knife, compared to 47% of adult

prisoners. Half had carried a knife in the 12 months before coming into prison, almost double

the number of adult prisoners. Over a third of young offenders were a member of a gang, over

three times the figure for adult prisoners. A third of young offenders had been in care at some

point in their upbringing, illustrating the disruption and instability of the social backgrounds

from which many of the young offender population originate. When asked if young offenders

ever witnessed any violence between their parents/carer as a child, 44% said they had.

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Relationships between young offenders and staff were reported as particularly favourable with

nine in ten respondents rating relationships with prisoners (96%) and officers in their hall (91%)

in positive terms, attesting to the professionalism of front line officers who manage this

particularly volatile population. Positive endorsement of this kind augurs well for developing a

culture of pro-social role modelling within the establishment.

Almost a third (30%) of young offenders reported they did not enjoy school at all, with only

three in ten (31%) attending school ‘most of the time’ and six in ten (59%) attending school

‘sometimes’. Over half (56%) were ‘often’ excluded from school. A quarter (25%) of young

offenders had no qualifications and around one fifth of young offenders reported they had

difficulty with writing (22%), reading (21%) and numbers (20%). These results highlight not

only limited educational attainment, but also the need for new and innovative ways of creating a

learning environment which is not necessarily predicated on traditional teaching methods against

which young people in custody have reacted during their formative years. The Survey found that

young offenders preferred to learn through sports (58%), practical workshops (57%) and the

internet (53%).

Three quarters of young offenders stated that they currently take part in a work party. Some

71% took part ‘to give me things to do with my time’, 62% to ‘improve my skills’ and 57% ‘to

learn new things’. Half of those young offenders who did not take part in activities (n=60) said it

was because ‘I don’t know what activities are available for me’. More efforts, therefore, could

be made to inform young people of the activities available to them in Polmont. Almost two

thirds of young offenders (63%) indicated that ‘getting a reward or privilege’ would encourage

them to take part in more activities in Polmont.

Half (51%) of young offenders who have been involved in any education/work activity while in

Polmont thought that their involvement would help them get a job on release, just under half

(44%) thought it would help them go to school/college and just over half (55%) thought it would

improve their social/life skills for work and living.

It appears then, that young offenders want to acquire skills and learn new things in order to help

them improve their social/life skills and get a job, in order to stop offending in the future. Young

offenders in custody remain a top priority for SPS. They are in the early stages of their

offending behaviour and a convincing body of research evidence indicates that early and targeted

intervention and support can prevent re-offending and escalation to sustained criminal behaviour

in adult life.

A critical HMCIP Polmont report in late 2012, which highlighted a lack of opportunities for

young people to engage in purposeful activities and meaningful training, was the catalyst for a

radical re-think of the approach to the management and care of young people in custody. A

programme of work to create a 'secure learning environment' and to provide real post-release

opportunities is well underway, together with wider cultural change to involve staff in pro-social

role modelling to promote and support desistance from re-offending. Contact with friends and

family in the community is also recognised to be of vital importance to the majority of prisoners,

as it is proven to impact on their quality of life and mental welfare.

The 2013 Prisoner Survey and the Young People’s Activity Survey has reported on several areas

which would benefit from further investigation and these will be followed up in 2014-15.

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