Very few young people are sent to custody (detention or imprisonment). We try to avoid this whenever possible. There are a variety of options available when sentencing young people to custody.

• Detention and Training Order (DTO): a fixed term sentence for up to 24 months, half in detention and half served in the community under Youth Justice supervision
• Section 90 and 91 sentences: imprisonment for more than 24 months, and life sentences for the most serious crimes, with release dependent on a parole board
• Section 226 and 228 sentences: an extended detention when a young person is considered a danger to the public

Where they will be sent

Young people under 15 will be held in a Secure Children's Home (SCH). Young people over 15 will be held in a Young Offender Institution (YOI) or Secure Training Centre (STC). 

Females are always placed in an SCH or an STC.

A different category of YOI holds young people between the ages of 18 and 21 before being moved into an adult prison.

Full provision is made for education, health, offending behaviour programmes and maintaining links with home and family.

Release

Youth justice officers regularly visit young people while they are in custody. Planning for release starts early.

A plan is made with the young person and their family and supporters before the young person is released.

When the young person has been released, they may be under extra conditions in order to protect the public. This also is to try to give them a good start in the community.

YJS officers will look at key services that might be able to help the young person continue the progress they have made while serving their sentence. They will also review the young person's progress and the plan on a regular basis.

Missed appointments and failing to meet the release plan may mean that the young person is taken back to court. If a young person appears in court for breach, they may be fined or sent back to prison for all or part of the rest of their sentence.