Explanatory note

These Rules make provision for the management of young offender institutions provided under section 43 of the Prison Act 1952 as amended by section 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 and Schedules 8 and 15 to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 which comes into force on 1st October 1988 (S.I. 1988/1408). They replace the Detention Centre Rules 1983 (S.I. 1983/569) and the Youth Custody Rules 1983 (S.I. 1983/570), as amended. They include provision for the treatment, occupation, discipline and control of inmates who may be detained therein, the conduct of officers of young offender institutions and the constitution, powers and duties of boards of visitors.

Rule 3 contains the aims and general principles of young offender institutions and rules 34 to 40 contain more detailed provisions regulating the regime. The provisions of the Rules are generally similar in substance to those of the Youth Custody Rules 1983, with some modifications to take account of the fact that the new sentence replaces both the detention centre order and the youth custody sentence. rule 43 provides that an inmate may not be stripped and searched either in the sight of another inmate or in the sight or presence of an officer not of the same sex.