MALE YOUNG
OFFENDERS 2013
14th
Survey Bulletin
Research, Strategy and Innovation
Shirley McCoard, Róisín Broderick & James Carnie
December 2013
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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
How often during the last year have you
failed to do what was normally expected
from you because of your drinking?
59 8 10 15 9
How often during the last year have you
needed a first drink in the morning to
get yourself going after a heavy
drinking session?
75 5 5 7 9
How often during the last year have you
had a feeling of guilt or remorse after
drinking?
59 9 8 10 13
How often during the last year have you
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
Young Offenders Adults
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
Young Offenders Adults
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
Young Offenders Adults
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’.
17
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.
18
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:
Percentage of respondents
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:
Percentage of respondents
Work parties 76
Youth work 43
Education 41
Programmes 25
Table 19 In the past, the young offenders have taken part in:
Percentage of respondents
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
19
‘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:
Percentage of respondents
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:
Percentage of respondents
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
20
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:
Percentage of respondents
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:
Percentage of respondents
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
21
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
22
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.
23
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.