§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when preparations for the high-intensity training programme at Her Majesty's young offenders institution Thorn Cross will be completed; and what target has been set for(a) the selection and (b) the reception of the first group of offenders; [38045]
(2) if it is his policy (a)that the high-intensity training programme, as well as being physically demanding, will focus on the education and social requirements of the inmates and (b)for intensive support to be provided to offenders on release from the high-intensity training programme; [38046]
(3) if he will outline the procedures by which the high-intensity training programme will aim to reduce recidivism; and how the success or failure will be monitored (a)in general and (b)in individual cases; [38047]
(4) what were the results of research carried out by members of the Prison Service senior management programme on boot camps in America; and how the schemes for the high-intensity training programme at Her Majesty's young offenders institution Thorn Cross will differ from schemes run in the USA. [38049]
§ Miss WiddecombeThe high-intensity training programme at Thorn Cross young offender institution receives its first intake of young offenders today.
As well as being physically and mentally demanding, the programme aims to address the educational and social needs of the inmates. The level of supervision after release will be higher than that experienced by inmates who serve their sentence in a normal young offender institution.
High-intensity training aims to reduce recidivism by combining:
- a demanding and disciplined approach;
- effective activities designed to bring about positive behavioural change;
- education and skills training;
- help into employment and good after release support.
Changes in the attitudes and behaviour of young offenders during their time at Thom Cross will be assessed and re-convictions after release will be monitored. The results will be compared with those from 58W a control group of similar young offenders who experience conventional young offender institution regimes.
Members of the 1993 Prison Service senior management programme, a training course for newly promoted senior staff, visited an American boot camp and other establishments as part of their training. An article by three of them was published in the May 1995 issue of the "Prison Service Journal", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. It represents the views of the writers and was not commissioned as a piece of research by or for the Prison Service or the Home Office.
American boot camps vary considerably in terms of their regimes and performance. High-intensity training is not a copy of an American boot camp but combines positive elements to be found in prison regimes both in America and in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the Army to be involved in running high-intensity regimes for civilian offenders(a) at the military corrective training centre, Colchester, and (b) elsewhere. [38048]
§ Miss WiddecombeI announced our plans for a new young offender institution at Colchester in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Welwyn and Hatfield (Mr. Evans) on 17 AprilOfficial Report, column 511. There are currently no plans for similar initiatives involving the Army.