Letter: The death of James Bulger; imprisonment of young offenders; causes of criminality

Friday 19 February 1993 00:02 GMT

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Sir: Your cogent analysis of the policy choices regarding persistent young offenders (leading article, 17 February) reminded me of the words of Scott Matheson, a former governor of the state of Utah. I asked him why, as one-time prosecutor, he had in 1983 closed the state's 'Youth Development Center' and converted the buildings into a community college. He replied that he used to see such places as part of the answer to youth crime. He had come to see them as being part of the crime problem.

Yours sincerely,

ANDREW RUTHERFORD

Chairman

The Howard League

London, N1

17 February

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Letter: The death of James Bulger; imprisonment of young offenders; causes of criminality

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