By Cecilia Nasmith
Cobourg Councillor Nicole Beatty's motion to try to pin down the province on the future of the Brookside Youth Centre has been answered with a letter from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.
The letter came before council this week, noting that the Youth Criminal Justice Act that came into effect in April 2003 had a focus on prevention, diversion and community-based programs. As in the case of Brookside – a heritage building whose grounds occupy northeast corner of King and Cottesmore streets – youth custody and detention centres throughout the province have seen a significant reduction in the number of youth admitted. Province-wide, the letter put the reduction at 78%.
“It is important to note that BYC is MCCSS's only directly-operated secure custody/detention facility for youth in East Region,” it added.
“The Ontario government is presently reviewing all youth open- and secure-custody facilities as per the Provincial Budget announcement.
“The modernization of youth justice services is to ensure we have the right spaces in the right places to address the needs of youth.”
