Coming out worse than they went in

Something in their lives – or something lacking from their lives – causes young offenders to become young offenders. They need care, not neglect.

On Tuesday, a teenage boy won a High Court ruling that his “prolonged period of solitary confinement” at Feltham Young Offenders Institute had breached his human rights.

He was often alone in his cell for 23 hours a day. The boy’s behaviour was described as “challenging”. Of course it was – his mental health is busted.

Is this what they call rehabilitation at Feltham? The teenager is due for release this month. Presumably worse off than when he went in. Hopeless.

God help him.