A 17-year-old teenager, Jonathan Beadle, tragically took his own life at Polmont Young Offender Institution near Falkirk, Scotland, on Saturday.
This incident comes just a month after the implementation of a Holyrood bill aimed at preventing individuals under 18 from being incarcerated.
Beadle had been convicted of offences including breach of the peace and had previously been housed at a secure care unit. His death follows a significant review of mental health services for young people in custody conducted five years ago, prompted by a series of high-profile suicides.
In 2018, Katie Allan, 20, and William Lindsey, 16, also died by suicide at Polmont, prompting a fatal accident inquiry this year.
Despite these incidents, concerns have been raised about the effectiveness and delays of such inquiries in holding institutions accountable.
The Scottish Prison Service expressed condolences, noting that all deaths in custody are reported to authorities.
However, families of victims like Katie Allan have criticized the inquiry process, arguing it fails to address systemic issues contributing to deaths in custody adequately.
Nicola Killean, the children and young people’s commissioner for Scotland emphasized that prisons are unsuitable environments for children and underscored the urgency of implementing the recent Children (care and Justice) (Scotland) bill.
This legislation, which received royal assent last month, prohibits sending children under 18 to prison.
Bruce Adamson, Killean’s predecessor, criticized delays in implementing the legislation, arguing that continuing to imprison children violates their rights and jeopardizes their safety.
Effective this week, incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law signals a renewed commitment to protecting young people’s rights and reshaping their interactions with the state.
Wendy Sinclair-Gieben, HM chief inspector of prisons in Scotland, highlighted the tragic nature of Beadle’s death, urging for alternatives to jail for young people who prioritize rehabilitation in therapeutic environments.
Siobhian Brown, the Scottish minister for victims and community safety, pledged to work with the Scottish Prison Service to expedite the transition away from incarcerating under-18s, aligning with the provisions outlined in the recent legislation.
