questionText: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer on 29 July 2026 to question 3142 on youth reoffending rates, what comparative assessment he has made of the reoffending rate for (a) short custodial sentences, (b) longer custodial sentences for children,(c) community-based sentences and (d) diversion programmes.
answerText: Evidence from Ministry of Justice research using matched statistical analysis suggests that custodial sentences for children are associated with higher reoffending rates than either Referral Orders or Youth Rehabilitation Orders (and where custodial sente...
heading: Sentencing: Young Offenders