Matt Noyes is absolutely right. The plight of young people in prison – most of whom do not need to be there – is an issue that requires immediate attention. Many of the children we imprison have suffered from past sexual or physical abuse, or have been the victims of neglect. Once in prison they are then exposed to high levels of violence, intimidation, bullying, and more abuse. If you believe these factors have no impact on a child’s mental health, consider this: a child in prison is 18 times more likely to commit suicide than a child in the community. I work as a campaigner for the Howard League for Penal reform and I believe it is time for a new approach to engaging with children who commit crime. To find out more, click on http://www.howardleague.org/gusu/.