The Young Review

Improving outcomes for Muslim and African/Caribbean young male offenders

An Independent Review led by Baroness Young of Hornsey

In March 2013 BTEG in partnership with Clinks and Baroness Young of Hornsey held a roundtable meeting in Westminster to discuss how we can better address the challenge of improving outcomes for Black Asian and Minority Ethnic offenders, through the commissioning process particularly within the context of the huge changes happening across the offender management system.

This included:

• Major reform of the probation service’s role and all rehabilitation services for offenders under the Transforming Rehabilitation programme
• Further private sector involvement in the management of prisons
• A review of custodial arrangements for young offenders under the jurisdiction of the Youth Justice Board

The roundtable was attended by a diverse group of leaders from relevant fields:

• Senior officials from the Ministry of Justice
• Representatives from the Prison and Probation Services
• Senior staff from charitable foundations
• Former service users  
• Leaders from BAME led community organisations
• Chief Officers from large national charities
• Directors from private sector providers
• Academics and researchers

The full report from the roundtable is available at the link here

Following the roundtable Jeremy Crook Director of BTEG, Clive Martin Director of Clinks and Baroness Young met Secretary of State for Justice Chris Grayling MP to seek his support for the roundtable’s principle recommendation which was to establish a time limited Task Group to investigate further how particularly the Transforming Rehabilitation process can deliver improved outcomes for BAME offenders.

Mr Grayling gave his support for the Task Group to look specifically at delivering improved outcomes for Muslim and African/Caribbean young male offenders (18-24 year olds.) The Task Group is being supported by Clinks and BTEG and chaired by Baroness Young. It will hold its first meeting on 21 October and has to produce an interim paper with recommendations for the Secretary of State before the end of 2013.

We will keep you updated of developments linked to the Young Review through this web page.