Opposition Justice Critic and MHA for the District of Burgeo & La Poile, Kelvin Parsons, is asking government to explain to community stakeholders why it is currently not utilizing the Youth Remand Centre to its fullest capacity.

"At the present time, the Youth Remand Centre on Parade Street in St. John's is the site of the Department of Justice's pre-trial service program, but the secure facility was not built for that purpose," says Parsons. " We do not understand, whether from the perspective of security demands or rehabilitation requirements, why young people that are awaiting trial, sentencing, or are being medically assessed for trial purposes continue to be transported 90km away to the Whitbourne Youth Facility."

The former Liberal government announced millions of dollars in funding for a new Youth Remand Centre back in the late 90's, based on the recommendations of the 1996 Inkpen Report "Secure Custody for Youth".

"Yet, when you look at the recommendations of the Inkpen Report, we see that many of the issues of segregation and isolation affecting youth in secure custody have yet to be resolved. While we have a remand facility in the city, there is a lack of a financial commitment from government to utilize it. Instead we have a system which routinely distances young offenders awaiting trial from the professional expertise and family supports they need. They are being punished before being seen by a judge or in many cases, appropriate medical personnel."

Parsons questions if current practices lend themselves to the adoption of a 'prison culture', a situation Linda Inkpen noted in her report where "resident’s identity, status and place within the prison leads to an allegiance that is in complete opposition to the alliances promoted by rehabilitative programs."

"According to Stats Canada, we have seen a serious rise in youth crime in the past years. In 2007, 3,377 youths were charged in the province compared to half that number of adults. Legal Aid advocates and child and youth workers are screaming for changes and we believe the best place to begin is by staffing this Youth Remand Centre with the appropriate personnel and for the purposes it was designed.

"It's time for government to recognize the role of the environment in creating or deflating the acceptance of a prison culture. Without a physical division between youth in custody and youth awaiting trial, the execution of youth justice and attempts at rehabilitation will be constantly undermined."