Staff shortages, lack of adequate protection, and an overcrowded, gang-infested facility are "a recipe for disaster" for correctional officers at the Manitoba Youth Centre, according to the union representing them.
The Manitoba Government and General Employees Union (MGEU) says the youth centre is currently operating over capacity, and officers are beginning to "burn out" from the stress of trying to keep order within its walls.
Thursday, 181 young offenders were being held at the MYC, according to a Manitoba Justice spokeswoman. It was built to house 157.
The facility, the largest youth correctional centre in Manitoba, separates young offenders by sex and houses them throughout 10 secure units known as "cottages." According to a description provided by a former youth corrections officer, each cottage has 12 secure rooms, a classroom, washroom facilities and a "control room" placed so that officers can keep an eye on inmates and manage their access to the cottage's common areas.
The MGEU, which represents more than 1,200 corrections officers in the province, said that on Wednesday, at least seven officers employed at the youth centre had phoned in sick, causing the burden of security at the centre to fall on tired and stressed co-workers who had already completed full shifts.
Sources concerned about rapidly declining security conditions at the youth centre began contacting the Free Press after an article Tuesday detailed an incident in which a 15-year-old girl had viciously assaulted two correctional officers there in early April.
The youth, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was given a nine-month sentence for the assaults, six months of which will be spent under constant guard at the youth centre.
Sources told the Free Press at least 10 similar incidents have occurred in recent months, and the MGEU confirmed there had been a notable increase in assaults on corrections officers.
Ken Crawford, the corrections staff representative for the MGEU, said a major concern is how young offenders at the youth centre are increasingly being held on charges involving serious and violent offences.
According to once source, officers are equipped only with handcuffs and small flashlights, virtually useless as protection against violent offenders when they get out of hand.
"We're not protected by any means. The staff are tense. Our morale is horrible," the source said.
Due to the lack of other means to control situations, officers say they're put in a position of having to appease young offenders with treats, movies and other distractions to create an artificial respectful, non-combative relationship.
On at least one recent occasion, a provincial containment squad consisting of officers dressed in riot gear was called in to defuse an explosive situation.
"Nothing's going to change until someone gets killed," the source said.
Tensions between rival gangs are often the spark igniting violent outbursts, according to justice sources. Jailed members of the Indian Posse street gang, at war with a rival gang, are said to be preparing an annual celebration of the gang's anniversary, leading to violent flare-ups.
About 60 per cent of the centre's inmates have gang afilliations of some sort.
Crawford acknowledged that gang-involved youth present a large problem for the centre, because the stress of having to isolate them according to street allegiances taxes the infrastructure of the facility.
Darryl Rumsey, the centre's superintendent, stressed that the facilty takes "every precaution" it can to ensure safety, and denied that corrections officers pander to inmates to maintain peace.
Rumsey said corrections officers don't carry weapons, largely for two reasons: to avoid them falling into the hands of inmates, and because violent outbursts happen so quickly, the weapons would be rendered useless to the officers.
"Unfortunately, sometimes because of the impulsiveness of these kids, they react very aggressively or violently. No level of weapon would change that situation," he said. "The majority of the population is respectful in doing what's asked of them."
Rumsey said he personally feels safe walking through all areas of the MYC, but acknowleged there's no way to completely eradicate all risk.
"We try to take as many measures as we can (to provide) every aspect of potential safety for staff," he said.
"At the end of the day, can we guarantee that every person will be safe all the time? We can't make that guarantee. Unless you had complete separation from the offenders... then there's always going to be a risk."
Last December, the centre failed in a bid to have an out-of-control 17-year-old removed by judicial order and placed in an adult institution. A Crown attorney, speaking on behalf of the centre, said the youth had been involved in a dozen serious incidents, many centred around his gang affiliation.
A source said when an offender attacks a corrections officer, they're placed in what's known as the Pink Room, a cell meant for suicidal or intoxicated youths. They still have access to a telephone and reading material while confined in that area.
He added that the MGEU is working with the Justice department to address staffing shortages, recruitment issues and infrastructure increases.
He said there's been a commitment from Rumsey to increase staff on all shifts. Rumsey said nine new corrections officers are to begin work next Friday.
james.turner@freepress.mb.ca
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