Youth Justice System
Young Offender Institutions
Young offender institutions (YOIs) are facilities run by both the Prison Service and the private sector and can accommodate 15 to 21-year-olds. The YJB is only responsible for placing young people under 18 years of age in secure accommodation. Consequently, some of these institutions accommodate older young people than secure training centres (STCs) and secure children's homes. The YJB commissions and purchases places for under-18s (i.e. 15 to 17-year-olds), who are held in units that are completely separate from those for 18 to 21-year-olds.
A YOI at a glance
| Size of units |
Units for males – 28–360 young people, with each wing accommodating 30–60
Units for females – 16-24 places |
| Staffing |
3–6 officers per wing |
| Staff training |
Prison officer training, plus Juvenile Awareness Staff Programme (JASP) |
YOIs generally have lower ratios of staff to young people than STCs and secure children's homes and accommodate larger numbers of young people. Consequently, they are less able to address the individual needs of young people and are generally considered to be inappropriate accommodation for vulnerable young people with high risk factors, such as mental health or substance misuse needs.
Inspections
YOI inspection reports are available on the Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons website [opens in new window].
Download HM Inspectorate of Prisons' annual surveys of young people under 18, held in YOIs under contract with the YJB, from the Home Office website: Young People in Custody (2004-2006): An analysis of children's experiences of prison [opens in new window].