§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he has taken(a) to identify good practice at Colchester YOI and (b) to disseminate it to other YOIs; [36703]
(2) when he expects the reconviction rate for Colchester YOI to be ascertained; and what provisional estimate he has made of it; [36708]
(3) what is his estimate of when the research carried out by Dr. Kate Painter of Cambridge University into the experimental regime at Colchester Young Offender Institution will be published; [36709]
(4) what research his Department has commissioned or evaluated on the number of former inmates at Colchester YOI obtaining employment following the completion of their sentence; [36706]
(5) how many incidents of absconding have taken place at Colchester YOI; [36707]
(6) how many incidents of self-harm have been reported from the Colchester Young Offender Institution; [36710]
(7) what assessment he has made of (a) the inculcation of discipline and (b) the participation in constructive activity at (i) the Colchester YOI and (ii) other YOIs; [36704]
(8) what proportion of young offenders at Colchester YOI have (i) taken part in and (ii) obtained certificates acknowledging competence in the short courses in (a) painting, (b) bricklaying, (c) motor mechanics, (d) animal husbandry, (e) carpentry and (f) other subjects offered as part of the regime. [36705]
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Her Majesty's Young Offender Institution Colchester: courses attended by young offenders Course Number of young offenders that attended the course % Number of young offenders that obtained certificates1 % Painting 23 35 21 32 Brick laying 23 35 7 11 Motor mechanics (garage skills) 23 35 23 35 Animal husbandry 30 30 2 3 Carpentry (home maintenance) 16 24 16 24 Computers 2 3 0 0 Computer self study 11 17 2— 2— Basic literacy and numeracy 66 100 366 3100 Resettlement education programme 44 67 2— 2— 1 The certificates awarded for Animal Husbandry are nationally recognised. Certificates awarded for all other courses were locally produced to recognise attendance and participation. They are not nationally recognised or accredited qualifications. 2 Certificates not awarded for course 3 Attendance for assessment was mandatory for all young offenders
§ Ms Quin(i) Colchester Young Offender Institution has been closely monitored by all those involved in the project, either directly or indirectly. Ministers have been regularly updated on progress, and I have had the opportunity to visit both Colchester and Thorn Cross to see their operation at first hand. The Prison Service is currently reviewing regimes for young offenders, and this will incorporate the learning from good practice identified at Colchester. The outcome of the review will be disseminated to all establishments.
(ii) Preliminary reconviction data should be available at the end of 1998. No provisional estimate of the reconviction rate has been made.
(iii) An evaluation report containing a qualitative analysis of the Colchester experiment should be available in the autumn. A further report, including reconviction data will be produced when the data are available.
(iv) The offenders' supervising probation officers record information on employment; this will be assessed as part of the evaluation process.
(v) There have been no reported incidents of absconding from Colchester, but one prisoner did breach a temporary release licence by failing to return from a community visit. This prisoner was taken back into custody after two days.
(vi) There have been no reported incidents of self-harm.
(vii) The Colchester evaluation includes an assessment of attitude and behaviour changes among young offenders during their time at Colchester. This includes measures relating to discipline. The regime was highly structured with constructive activities and full participation was a basic requirement.
In other Young Offender Institutions assessment of needs and participation in appropriate regime activities is part of young offenders' sentence management. Discipline and behaviour are regularly monitored as part of the incentives and earned privileges scheme which determines the inmates' level of privileges.
(viii) There have been 66 young offenders at Her Majesty's Young Offender Institution Colchester. The table lists the proportion and numbers who attended courses and obtained certificates.
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