Promise or Compromise? Education for Young People in the Criminal Justice System in England

Description

Dr Caroline Lanskey presents her work at the CRASSH Postdoctoral Research Seminar.

A light buffet lunch will be provided. Please contact Dr Anne Alexander to reserve a place. Reading materials will be available before the seminar.

Abstract

In 2010 local authorities take over responsibility for the education of young people in Young Offender Institutions and Secure Training Centres in England. The local authority where the young person resides (the ‘home authority’) is required to promote the fulfilment of the young person’s learning potential during their time in a secure institution and on their return to the community.  The ‘host authority’ where the relevant secure institution is situated is required to plan, commission and fund educational provision in the institution according to a framework established by the new central body, the Young People’s Learning Agency. The motivation behind the legislation is to align education for young people in custody with the mainstream sector in order to improve the continuity of their educational experience.

The recent legislative changes provide a timely opportunity for reflection on the positioning of education for young people in the criminal justice system in England and in particular on the education of young people in secure institutions. Drawing on examples from recent policy and research in secure institutions for young people, this paper argues that, while the new legislation offers potential for improvement, interpretations of education have become overly narrow in criminal justice policy and practice and that further consideration needs to be given to the impact of current penal agenda which limit the conceptual reach of educational provision, its policies and its capacity to deliver.