On Saturday May 2, two Juveniles and Care Staff members took up residence at the Juvenile Residential Centre which will be officially named and commissioned later. The ‘soft’ opening of the centre was jumpstarted with a magistrate ‘probation order of residence’ where two males were ordered to the center which is presently located in the Forest.

Word from the Department of Probation said, “Since the opening, Juveniles and their families have been provided an orientation to the Centre’s operations as well as guidelines that govern expected behaviour and attitude while at there.”

The government owned building was remodeled to make it more conducive to its present function. Chief Probation Officer of the Department of Probation, which has overall responsibility for the Centre, Mrs. Johnson-Carty, informed the media that in keeping with the Government’s commitment under the area of Social and Cultural Development (Promoting a more caring and harmonious society which values the humanity of all its members), provision for a residential centre and programmes for delinquent youth and youth at risk were areas highlighted as key components to the juvenile justice and juvenile care programs on the island.

According to Johnson-Carty, the name for the facility was selected during a name search competition which ran in March this year. She explained that the public naming campaign involved radio advertisements, a web site dedicated to the effort, and care workers dispensing ‘paper ballots’ in the community. The center will be officially named during Probation Week 2009 which will run from June 7 to 13.

Initially, plans were underway for a facility to accommodate both male and female juveniles. The Probation head disclosed that in the last couple of years, however, due to an increase in the number of young males it was pushed for the present male facility as a temporary measure. Meanwhile, other arrangements were being used for offending girls. “There are presently four young individuals housed at the centre; three for mid-term sentences and one remanded awaiting trial,” Johnson-Carty said.

Mrs. Johnson stated that the separation of juveniles from other offenders in a prison setting is necessary because the youngsters need to be treated differently. She pointed out, “Every opportunity should be offered toward their rehabilitation and it is important that it is done in a setting that is conducive. This holds true in any offence that is not considered severe.” Capital offenders will continue to face prison.

The Chief Social Worker noted that the centre was severely short staffed and her department was still in the process of recruiting employees. “We are really working on a skeleton crew which is not the best thing,” she said, “We really had to push with the limited staff so we have probation officers assisting in that sector, we are very stretched.”

There are presently seven members of staff which include three care workers, three senior workers and the supervisor.

Mrs. Johnson-Carty wished to extend thanks to the Supervisor of the Juvenile Centre Miss Christine Faranda and all of the Care Staff for their hard work in brining this programme to this stage. She said that, while there was a long way to go, this undertaking should make us all proud of our efforts to rehabilitate and redirect juveniles who come into conflict with the law.

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