Custody is most damaging to young people and HLS believes that Scotland should legislate to stop sending young people under the age of 18 to prison except when convicted of a serious, violent crime. This is in recognition of it being against the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and that it is counter-productive to lock up young people.

Also, the Children’s Hearing System – not the Courts – should deal with 16 and 17 year olds in need of care and who have been charged with an offence. The way to stop so many of our young people ending up in prison is to actively support and care for them; to invest in them, their families and their communities: and, if they do end up in prison, to support them from the moment of release.