The Guardian view on young offenders: amid rising violence, they need support to change | Editorial

The Guardian’s editorial highlights the worsening conditions for young offenders in UK prisons, particularly at HMP Swinfen Hall, where violence and instability are surging. Through interviews with mothers of incarcerated young men, the piece argues that punitive measures like pepper spray aren’t enough—these individuals need rehabilitative support to break cycles of harm. The broader prison crisis has overshadowed their plight, but the human toll demands attention.