Being locked up affects young people even more than adults, and it should only be done when the crime is so serious that there isn’t any other choice. This isn’t just our opinion, it has been agreed by the United Nations – but some countries are breaking this agreement.
Some of these young people have committed serious and violent crimes, but nearly all are being held for less serious things like theft and vandalism. Most of them are waiting for their trial and haven’t even been convicted yet. Some haven’t committed any crime at all, but are held because their families can’t cope with them, or because they are begging on the streets.
The conditions young people are held in can be very bad – dirty, overcrowded and with no access to medical services. Gangs, bullying and violence are normal. In some countries under-18s are held in the same places as adults, even though it has been agreed that this shouldn’t happen. This makes young people vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse from adult prisoners and guards. When young people are locked up in bad conditions, self-harm and suicide are common.
There is often no education available and no attempt to prepare young people for life when they get released from prison – which means they are much more likely to offend again.
