SPSA 17-year-old boy has died at Polmont Young Offenders Institute, two years after the Scottish Government pledged to stop sending under-18s there.
Jonathan Beadle died at the facility in Falkirk on Saturday. A mandatory Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held into his death.
A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual.
“Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised, and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal Accident Inquiries are held in due course.”
Jonathan had previously been at a secure children’s unit before being moved to Polmont.
He had been awaiting sentencing having been convicted of possessing a weapon with intent to “assault and murder” a 16-year-old schoolgirl.
Police Scotland said Jonathan’s death is being treated as unexplained but that there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances.
Young people aged 16 and 17 are supposed to be placed in secure accommodation rather than YOIs under the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill, which became law last month.
As of July 12, there were nine 16-to-17 year olds held in custody at Polmont. Six were untried, two had been sentenced and one had been awaiting sentencing.
The Scottish Government said it was working with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to “commence these provisions shortly”.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of the death of a 17-year-old male at HMP Polmont, Blairlodge Avenue, Polmont on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
“The death is being treated as unexplained but there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances.
“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
Siobhian Brown, minister for victims and community safety, said: “Every death in custody is a tragedy and I extend my deepest condolences to Jonathan’s family. As a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal, it would be inappropriate to comment further.
“The Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act which received Royal Assent on June 4, includes provisions to end the placement of under 18s in Young Offenders Institutions.
“We are working with the Scottish Prison Service and Secure Accommodation providers to commence these provisions shortly. The decision on whether to detain a child remains with the independent judiciary.”
In 2022, the Scottish Government announced it was ending the placement of 16 and 17-year-olds in young offender institutions.
It came after Scotland’s chief inspector of prisons led calls for no-one under the age of 18 to be sent to jail.
Wendy Sinclair-Gieben said the results of a survey of 16 and 17-year-olds at HMP YOI Polmont were “shocking”.
A joint fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of two young people who took their own lives at Polmont is expected to publish its result later this year.
STV NewsKatie Allan, 21, and William Lindsay, 16, were found dead in their cells in separate incidents in 2018.
William, who had been in care repeatedly, died on October 7, – three days after being admitted as there was no space in a children’s secure unit, despite a history of making attempts on his life.
Ms Allan, a student at Glasgow University, was found dead on June 4, while she served a 16-month sentence for drink-driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, which she had pleaded guilty to.
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