'Just 15 minutes out every day': a teenage prisoner's life during Covid

One young inmate tells how being locked up alone for hours and not being able to see his family affected his mental health

• UK Covid policy for children in detention ‘cruel and inhumane’, says UN expert

For five months, 16-year-old Sean* spent around 23 hours a day in his cell. He tried to get through the time by doing puzzles and calling his lawyer, asking her again and again to help him get bail.

When he arrived at the secure training centre (STC) it was already in lockdown. He was just 15. “I had to go into total isolation for the first two weeks, just 15 minutes out every day. It was my first time in custody and at first I thought this is OK, it’s a chance to slow things down. But after two weeks it began to affect me. You couldn’t do anything. I could hear voices calling on the wing, but I only saw the guard.”

I was very concerned about his mental health. Every time I called he sounded very depressed

Related: UK Covid policy for children in detention 'cruel and inhumane', says UN expert

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from Children | The Guardian https://ift.tt/34tWXsu