A lack of justice for young people in our punitive society | Letters

Retired youth court judge David Simpson on the age of criminal responsibility and imprisonment, and retired solicitor Malcolm Fowler on delays in criminal cases

The age of criminal responsibility for children has been a subject of debate for a generation, and I suspect the answer to why it is so low compared with our European neighbours is that we are a uniquely punitive society (Government urged to raise age of criminal responsibility above 10, 5 November). We obviously have a deep-seated belief in punishment, particularly the use of imprisonment. The murder by young children of James Bulger still resonates today, and no government has the courage to take on the popular press. Fortunately the use of custody for children has declined in recent years, but for adults the opposite is true.

Despite incontrovertible evidence that prison conditions are atrocious, dehumanising and guaranteed not to rehabilitate, we appear to want more people imprisoned for longer. The popular desire to punish children as if they were fully formed little adults is so deep-rooted that I despair of any change despite the overwhelming case for reform.
David Simpson
(Retired youth court judge), Datchet, Berkshire

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from Children | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2pUe84X