Prince George, B.C.- A redesign of the Youth Custody Services in B.C. will mean the end of youth custody services for girls in Prince George and the loss of half a dozen jobs in P.G.

The Provincial Government is centralizing youth custody operations because of low occupancy rates. According to the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the average daily occupancy by girls at the Prince George Youth   services centre was 2.1.  

Victoria also has a low occupancy rate at an average of 4.6 females per day over the past year, it too will be closed. 

So all services for girls will be centralized in Burnaby. The Ministry says this will create a larger grouping of girls and permit the development and enhancement of programs that, for example, address addictions and trauma typically experienced by girls.  

Funding has also been set aside for a girls’ family visitation program in Burnaby, and for special female sheriffs’ escorts to expedite the transportation of girls to Burnaby from courts in outlying areas.

The BCGEU is outraged. Union President Darryl Walker says the cuts will mean the loss of 6 jobs in Prince George and will create a disconnect between youth and their families  “The facilities on the chopping block have allowed female youth offenders to remain in the same region as their family members. So much for the B.C. Government’s families first agenda and the BC Jobs Plan,” said Walker.

The Ministry says there will be improvements made to the facility in Prince George in the way of enhancing Aboriginal programs for the boys who are in custody here. 

Before the changes were announced, the Prince George facility had the capacity to handle 36 youth. The new maximum will be 24.