By Edmonton Sun
CANADA — Manitoba Justice says it will conduct a “comprehensive review” of an incident at the Agassiz Youth Centre last week. Five inmates of the Portage la Prairie jail have been charged with offences related to property damage, a standoff and an attempted escape last Tuesday.
They appeared in a Winnipeg courtroom on the charges the next day. Louis Goulet, the province’s executive director of youth corrections, said the episode was rare.
“Certainly we’ve had situations where we’ve had individual youths acting out,” Goulet said.
“But something comparable to what happened here? No, not to my recollection.”
In the aftermath, Goulet said the province will conduct a “comprehensive review” regarding the incident and look at how similar events can be prevented.
According to reports, several youths barricaded themselves in one building and began destroying the room.
An emergency response team and crisis negotiator were dispatched from the Headingley Correctional Centre.
After a brief standoff, the youths were taken into custody.
One had minor injuries but did not require treatment.
Another two youths attempted to escape the grounds but were apprehended by Agassiz staff.
The fact a response team was called out, and the number of youths involved, distinguished the event in the eyes of youth corrections officials, said Goulet.
Copyright 2008 Sun Media Corporation