Voices from the inside : Next steps with youth in custody

McCreary would like to acknowledge Overall, 126 youth in Prince George the support of Youth Custody Services Youth Custody Services (PGYCS), Victo- within MCFD and the staff of PGYCS, ria Youth Custody Services (VYCS) and VYCS and BYCS for supporting the Next Burnaby Youth Custody Services (BYCS) Steps process. [...] Compared to other were only three custody centres in the prov- youth in BC, youth in custody are more ince as a result of changes to the Provincial likely to have: Youth Custody Services. [...] At the same time, Youth By using the Next Steps workshops, Custody Services also expressed interest opportunities for dialogue would be created in getting feedback from youth about their between youth and the custody centre; lives in the custody centres and what would youth in custody could then be actively help them successfully transition back into engaged in decision-making on issues the commun [...] Custody sentences can A change in legislation has contributed to be “secure” or “open.” the decline in the number of youth in cus- Secure custody is intended for youth who tody from approximately 400 in 1996/97 to cannot be supervised in a community set- 220 in 2002/03; after the Youth Criminal ting or in open custody. [...] Voices from the Inside: Next Steps with Youth in Custody Reflections From Custody Centre Representatives In each custody centre, one or more cen- Appropriate staff level tre representatives were invited into the workshop to listen to the youth speak In 10 of the 13 workshops, the youth gave about what they would like changed in the their feedback to one or more Persons centres and what would he