Youth Custody Centers Report

8/3/2019 Youth Custody Centers Report

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Youth Custody Centers Report

There are three youth custody centers in British Columbia. These centers along

with all of the centers across the country are provincially run, but each works under the

federal Youth Justice Act. All of these facilities are accredited, which means they are

measured against standards by the counsel of accreditation. The three centers are the only

custody centers in North America to have achieved this. BC is currently known to be

very progressive as far as its treatment of delinquent youth in custody centers. The

Largest center is in Burnaby, with smaller centers in Victoria and Prince George. The

Victoria facility is currently ten years old and is a 60 bed facility, but only houses 25-30

youth.

Each of these centers has similar goals. They work to complete court orders, make

the community safer; by giving youth offenders appropriate treatment intervention and

care in an environment that is secure. They also aassist youth by allowing them the

opportunity for reintegration and rehabilitation by being involved with effective programs

that meet with their needs and requirements, putting structures and strategies in place that

allow for growth and success, an ffocusing on their personal cases and providing plans

that assess their risk, and meet their needs.

The Victoria facility employs about 85 staff and utilizes around 100 volunteers.

There is a Director of Operations who is In charge of line staff and supervisors, building

maintenance, emergency preparedness, and general operations. There is a great variety of

Jobs available in the Facility including: Four managers, several School District Teachers,



Two probation officers, a Volunteer Coordinator. There are two deputy directors. One

works in case management along with the case management coordinator, the other is in

charge of programs. There is a Supervisor working in admissions and discharge as well

as several staff. Working out of the facility are 4 ISS workers (Intensive Support

Supervision), their job is to work in the community and with youth on conditional

sentences. There are also several councillors. The remaining majority work as line staff

or correctional officers as they are commonly known. However the staff and youth refer

to them as Youth Supervisors. The minimum qualifications to work in the facility are a

grade twelve education, and demonstrated experience working with youth. Often people

are hired that have previously done volunteer work. There is a variety of volunteer

positions working in programs such as athletic, art, music, or education.

Programs in the facility are chosen to promote rehabilitation, and give the youth a

way to pass time. Programs available at the facility include a fully functional school

district school, in which youth are able to take any courses they could take in regular

school. This program is mandatory if you are under 15. However it is very rare that a

youth does not want to do coursework, as there is little else to do. Other programs include

a drug and alcohol, violence prevention, female youth, mental health, religious,

aboriginal, recreational and Leisure, life skills like cooking. Family visits are also

counted as a program. And general reintegration programs are necessary.

Youth are kept busy through these programs, and only are required to be locked in

their cells from 10 at night till 8 in the morning. During day they can go to the gym,

participate in programs, or do school work. There is very little violence as all staff has

been trained in crisis intervention, and youth are constantly supervised. The average



sentence at the Victoria center is 30 to 60 days. However, there are youth who stay at the

facility for years, they can even be kept at the facility till twenty if the court wishes, and

this may be before moving to adult facility. Offences range from stolen property to

murder. Yet many housed are yet to be sentenced and are awaiting trial or for their next

court appearance. These youth may be considered a risk to the community, or have a high

risk of reoffending. Upon entering the facility the risk of each youth is assessed; in order

promote the safety of other youth.

In the last few years there have been several improvements to the system

including less violence due to programming and training, specifically therapeutic crisis

prevention, which is necessary training for each staff member. Facilities are also less

overcrowded 15 years ago it was estimated 450 youth in custody in BC, now there are

only 100 or less. This is partially due to the Youth Justice Act aiding in the use of more

alternative measures to confinement. The attitude has also morphed to be generally

positive and the majority of employees in the system want to work with youth a work to

do the best they can at their Jobs.

Documents

Youth Custody Centers Report