Photo Credit: B.C. Government

By Sam Bennison

Youth Custody

Prince George Youth Custody Centre set to close

Nov 16, 2023 | 4:28 PM

PRINCE GEORGE— The Ministry of Children and Family Development has announced that the Prince George Custody Services Centre (PGCSC) will officially close March 31, 2024.

The Ministry says that this is due to a Canada-wide trend of fewer youth being placed into custody including in the Prince George and Burnaby Youth Custody Services Centre locations. Further decreases in youth custody were accelerated following changes made to the federal Youth Criminal Justice Act in 2019 which focused on reducing the use of custody sentences for alternatives to charging for less serious offences.

Other factors of the decrease include B.C’s commitment to early identification and interventions for youth at risk, the success of community justice programs, and B.C.’s commitment to addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous youth in criminal justice system.

When the PGCSC closes, Burnaby Youth Centre will be the main youth custody facility in the province. However, a small part of the centre will remain open beyond March to provide temporary accommodation to youth in custody while the ministry is working to secure a longer-term space.

Around 50 B.C. General Employee’s Union employees will be impacted by the closure. The Ministry says that it’s working with the unions to ensure all stages of workforce adjustment are followed and employees are given multiple choices for their career options moving forward.

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