The Youth Justice system in England and Wales: Reducing Offending by Young People

Written evidence from Geriant Davies (02)

I am aware that the Public Accounts Committee is meeting tomorrow to discuss the NAO report on the youth justice system- reducing reoffending .

In my capacity as Secretary of the APPG in speech and language difficulties, I would like to bring to the Committee’s attention that:

· Over 70% of young offenders have such  significant communication difficulties that they are unable to benefit from prison education programmes.  

·  The ASSET assessment used by the YJB does not identify these vulnerable young people, or those with learning difficulties. Consequently they do not receive the support and intervention they require to enable them to benefit from the prison regime or integrate back into society.

· Research in Leeds in 2010 demonstrated that 65% of young offenders required speech and language therapy

· SLT can have a profound effect, with 88% of the young people treated in the Leeds project making significant and measurable progress with their communication skills.

Therefore, in order to reduce offending in the youth justice system speech and language therapists should be employed within the justice pathway to train staff in communication skills and to work with young people directly.

Please would you circulate this email to the members of the PAC and to the NAO with a view to the PAC adopting this recommendation.

Many thanks and best wishes

Geraint Davies MP

Secretary of the APPG in speech and language difficulties

January 2011