principles outlined in the report, the
government should create a separate ministry.

By the time of the public report’s release in
1994, the Branch was planning to replace
WYDC and Victoria Youth Custody Centre
with three new custody centres. The plan was
to divide the Willingdon complex into two
smaller, separate facilities with one facility in
the Fraser Valley. The new centres were
expected to address many of the concerns
raised by the ombudsman regarding program
space, overcrowding and poor conditions.

Difficulties arose with the replacement of
Waulingdon Youth Custody Centre. The public
was opposed to the proposed new location of
the facility.

Meanwhile, separate rooms were being
developed at Boulder Bay Camp to allow for
more privacy. A living unit was reconstructed at
Lakeview Camp. Staff were also receiving
additional training. Following the report on
youth custody centres, the Branch began
working with the Justice Institute to develop
specialized training for staff working in the
centres.

The construction of new youth centres was
scheduled for completion by 1997. However,
planning was halted before a shovel even hit the
ground. Renewed planning for the replacement
of youth centres had to wait until the late

1990s.

Addressing the challenges of
overcrowding

By 1992, overcrowding in the open custody
facilities within Vancouver Island Region
became a problem. Guthrie House and staff
cottages on the site of Nanaimo Correctional

Centre were converted into an open custody
facility for youth. On the same property,
Campbell House became Nanaimo Youth
Custody Centre—a medium security institution.
In 1989, the Campbell House unit was closed
and the new Prince George Youth Custody
Centre was opened to help resolve
overcrowding.

Due to overcrowding in youth facilities, the
Branch considered using an unoccupied unit
with 25-34 vacant secure beds at Burnaby
Correctional Centre for Women (BCCW), At
the time, release options were provided so
women could serve their sentences closer to
home. This factor decreased the population at
BCCW to approximately 80 inmates.

Despite the use of this facility, overcrowding in
youth custody continued. In 1996, additional
bunks were installed at the Victoria Youth
Custody Centre to alleviate overcrowding.

Use of terminal temporary absences

The youth custody system, like the adult
system, gave priority to the development of
eatly release options to reduce overcrowding.
These options were also considered more cost
effective than building new facilities.

One option for early release was the terminal
temporary absence program that was
introduced in 1991 as a response to severe
overcrowding, Terminal temporary absences
were granted in the last one-third of a sentence,
and provided an efficient avenue for early
release of young offenders from custody. In
1991-92, 36% of all releases from custody were
through terminal temporary absences. In
1992-93 and 1993-94, this increased to 42% and
50% of releases, respectively.

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Corrections in British Columbia