If they can't be sent out in chain gangs then they should be locked up in a small spartan cell 23 hours a day with only a bucket to shit in.

Was it a bunkerite? There've been a few missing lately

A mate of mine (a 21 year old) is down in a Young Offender's in Wales and he's said the exact opposite - stuck in a cell for 21 hours with a lad who is coming off heroin can't be fun. He's a big lad and handy with his fists so he hasn't had any bother, but he's seen many people in there get beaten up or get their food and essentials taken off them by other prisoners. On the back of his letter he'd written 'Prison - Never Again'. It all depends on your outlook on life I suppose.

Yeah, I suspect Mutley's little friend is a congenital liar

No point in blaming his parents like if he can't tell the truth......it's just bravado. ASBO x 20, innit?

I've worked in young offenders institutions and the one thing that pisses me off more than anything else is the fact that often they come out and tell everyone what a doddle it is - when I've seen them in there (and I'm talking about right hard cases that everyone in their town is scared of) and they've been depressed, paranoid and scared.
There's much more violence in YOI's than prisons and the usual one for north easterners, Castington, came out as the most violent in a survey recently.
I think young men often come out with a swagger as if its a badge earned but thats when they come out, not when they're in there.
As for games consoles, tellies etc well its true they have them in there. They used to have to work up to them as a reward for good behaviour but now I understand its there as a starter and you get them removed for bad behaviour. Its stops them kicking off I presume. Not sure I agree with it personally but if so I prefer the former.

Whatever it's like it's too nice for them in my opinion.

I used to work in a Youth Offending Team and used to visit young offenders institutions including Feltham in West London. The lad Mutley knows must have behaved well as the tv, xbox etc are rewards for good behaviour. The lack of education is down to lack of resources and not being able to get decent teachers to work in y o institutions. It's the same with substance abuse and employment education. Again, when people are on Community sentances, a lack of resources mean that there is little learning or reparation taking place.
Some people seem to breeze through their sentances others have a hard time. There is a high percentage of undiagnosed / mild learning disability among offenders who find it difficult to form friendships and are only accepted by other offenders - a vicious cycle.
There are then parents who have little idea about parenting and the responsibility involved in being a parent. Some court orders include a parenting order but again scarce resources often mean that this is not undertaken.
Often locking someone up in a cell with their tv xbox etc is an easy and cheap option to addressing offending behaviour - sad but true I'm afraid.

I bet he bakes a mean space cake!!

As long as they teach him that nail files aren't meant to be in cakes

aye, they wear your teeth down

Don't talk to me about prisons, no really..............don't.
7 yrs to retirement !!!