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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1984-05-30, Page 14.' for five years or more. Youths under 14 can also be sentenc- ed to secure custody if they commit an offence for which an adult could receive a life sentence. , Bluewater Centre As far as is now known, the Bluewater Centre will become one of the secure custody institutions in Ontario once the renovations are com- pleted, but again, the exact plans for the new centre are not yet finalized. Bill Gregg says the new centre will have to meet maximum specifica- tions for safety and security as required by the government. The age group to be kept in the new detention facility is not known. Elaine Robertson, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Community and Social Services says that she does not think her ministry will be involved in the opera- tion of the Bluewater Centre, ie which case the centre will house only youths 16 and 17 years old. If younger of- fenders were also to live there, her ministry would be required to work with the Ministry of Correctional Ser- vices to run the facility. Steven Blake, from. the Ministry of Correctional Ser- vices, says his own ministry has not yet been told whether they are running the new cen- tre or not. They will be hav- ing a meeting next week to in - ea s troduce the area managers of the ministry to the Young Of- fenders Act. The new centres is still scheduled to be opened on April 1, 1985, and the province originally hoped that they could have a phasing -in period prior to that. Nothing can be started on the building until the plans are finalized and the funding approved, which hopefully will happen within the next month, but could be much later. Until then, a skeletal maintenance staff of 15 people remain at the Bluewater Cen- tre keeping the grounds and the building ready for the workers and youths they know are coming, they just don't know when. SKIP FOR HEARTS — Rita Bilcke and Amy Relouw were two of a large number of Precious Blood Separate School students taking part in Monday's Skip -Rope for the Heart Fund. T -A photo XV750. ThE- RIDE DELIVERS EVERYTHING THE LOOK PROMISES. Check out our low, low prices From the pull back handlebars and low slung seat to the siamesed shorty pipes and throaty rumble, the XV750's got the classic V -twin look and sound. And because it's from Yamaha, it's got a lot more to make it a V -twin that's as impressive a machine from behind the handlebars as it is from thestreet. YAMAHA The way it should be. Port Franks Cycle & Marine Open 7 days a week (519)243-2703, Port franks, Ont. Plop. 14. Times -Advocate, May 30, 1984 Goderich area detention centre could face Plans for renovations at Bluewater Centre south of Goderich are still up in the air eight months after the an- nouncement was made that the centre.will be turned into a detention facility for young offenders. Bill Gregg, who will remain supervisor of the centre after reopening, says the detention centre was originally schedul- ed to be pened on April 1 of next year. However, it is doubtful now that the new facility will be ready in time for that opening, as the work has not even been started on the building. Gregg says that some design work has been com- pleted for the renovations, but nothing has been finalized. The executive committee of the Ministry of Correctional Services, which administers correctional facilities for youths 16 and 17 years old, has submitted its recommen- dations to the management board of the provincial Cgbinet. t board controls provin- cial government expen- ditures, and must approve all plans for new provincial ser- vices. Until the funding is ap- proved, no work can be started on the centre, and the actual details of the renova- tions cannot be determined. Although Gregg says no building additions will be made to the existing struc- tyre, the renovations will be extensive. When provincial Secretary for Justice Gordon' Walker announced the centre last September, he indicated that the renovations would cost "in the millions of dollars." As well as funding pro- blems, nobody seems too sure yet under whose authority the new centre will be operated. The Ministery of Correctional Services has looked after detention facilities for,people 16 years old and over until now. Probation and correc- tional services for people under 16 have been under the authority of the Ministry of Community and Social Ser- vices, under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Delinquents Act, which is no longer in effect. Young Offenders Act The new Young Offenders Act which has taken its place includes people 16 and 17 years old as youths. Previous- ly, these people who commit- ted offences were ad- ministered under the Criminal Code. Youths from 12 to 17'who commit crimes are now treated under the Young Offenders Act, which became law on April 2, 1984. The new act, says Crown Attorney Garry Hunter, balances the young offender's needs with society's needs. "There is more emphasis on 1 CGIT GIRLS GRADUATE — Thames Road United Church CGIT leadersShirleyWilkin- son and Bea Dawson present roses to graduates Kim Prance and Catherine Johns, Sunday evening. T -A photo Lioness from enjoy tour The Exeter Lioness Club held their monthly meeting at the Exeter Masonic Hall Mon- day evening. The Eastern Star women prepared a beautiful meal which everyone enjoyed. Visiting the club this month were 16 members from the newly Chartered Atwood Lioness Club. Following supper, the .ladies thoroughly enjoyed the highlights of Gwyn Whilsmith's most recent trip "Around the World". Gwen and her friend Elizabeth Moore decided at age 60 to fulfill their life dream of "Travelling Around the World". During the five and half weeks, they were allotted five stops in their flight. These stops took them to Japan; Hong Kong, China, India, Rome and Holland. They visited friends and acquain- tances throughout their tours and were quite often left from the tours and struck out on their own. Japan was amazingly clean, even though the numbers of people. Western life has changed customs of the women and children work very hard in order to achieve their education. China is a country with two billion persons also in a very small area. During the next generation the country has decided to limit their families to one child, in order to reduce the population to one billion. The country is very dull with grey buildings, and clothing is mainly navy blue and grey. There are . few flowers but lush greenery. India seemed like a Culture Shock to the two travellers. They really required the com- forts of home in their hotel as the country is in poverty and a cultural change, which can only be believed if viewed personally. They left India during their dry season, when water is very scarce and landed in Rome, for a day and half, to wet, cold weather. Their stay was cut short, so that they HELIUM BALLOONS ..Just For The Fun Of It Exeter of world could enjoy better weather in Holland, which greeted them with good food, more open space, beautiful gardens and felt more like home. The trip was a success, they had both gone the distance and surviv- ed and grown in knowledge and experience. The business of the meeting followed whereupon Phyllis Haugh won the draw. Lioness Janis Dougall reported on the Ladies' Great Ride for Cancer which was held May 27 at 2:00 p.m. in Exeter. Thirty-five ladies came out to raise approximately $2,624.67 in donations for Cancer. The weather was beautiful with lovely sunshine warming the ladies on the ride. Diane Darl- ing was the top sponsored per- son, second was Gayle O'Brien and Sue Wilson won the door prize, which was a flower arrangement. The club authorized the playground committee to use the donations and monies to install more components to the playground area at the South Huron Community Park. - An Austrian pine tree will be Purchased and planted in MacNaughton Park in con- nection with Ontario's Bi - Centennial. Homecoming Plans are progressing very well and everyone is reminded and in- vited to all the activities planned in Exeter on June 8, 9 and 10, 1984. public protection." Under the old Juvenile Delinquents Act, a young per- son who committed a crime was treated as a misguided child,not as a criminal. The new act's main emphasis is to make the youth bear more responsibility for his actions. '!he new act also recognizes that chidren's rights in pra cedures of arrest and detain- ment should be the same as an adult's rights in similar circumstances. As far as sentencing is con- cerned, Hunter says the judge will have more leeway in dealing with the young of- fenders than previously. The maximum fine has been in- creased from $25 to $1000, so fining could become a more common method of dealing with less serious offences. Compensation to the victim in terms of money or work, and community service are other possible sentences. The court procedures for more serious crimes are now better defined under the new act. As before, youth court judges have the option to transfer a case to adult court for serious offences if they feel this would better protect society. If the case is heard in the youth courts, the maximum sentence in most cases is two years in custody, three years if an adult could get a life sentence for the same of- fence. The sentences must be for a definite period; previously, open-ended sentences could be given that put young people in custody for indeterminate periods. A "committal to custody" means that the young of- fender will be admitted to a specially designated residen- tail facility from which his or her access to the community is restricted. 'the govern; ment's intention is to keep young offenders out of adult institutions as long as possi ble, so facilities are being developed strictly for young people. There are two levels of facilities available: open and secure custody. Open custody includes community centres, group homes, childcare in- stitutions or camps, and many such facilities already exist. A sentence of open custody will be ordered whenever possible; secure custody is a measure only to be used as a last resort, again; the act says, when it is necessary for the protection of society. Youths can only be sentenced to secure custody if they are over 14 years old and have committed a crime for which an adult could be sentenced SENIORS BAKING --- Shown with baked sponsored by the Exeter senior citizens Thomson. goods at Saturday's garage and bake sale are Ila Love, Edna Caldwell and Mildred T -A photo Coun Plowcps EXETER 235-2350 1 MAKING A PURCHASE — Pot Skinner purchases a coffee pot from Cora Smith and Alice Bowen at Saturday's garage sale sponsored by the Exeter senior citizens. .r 1 FIVE MEN MADE FIVE MISTAKES One man struck a match to see if the gasoline tank in his car was empty. It wasn't. One man speeded up to see if he could beat the train to the crossing. He didn't. One man patted a strange bulldog on the head to see if it was affectionate. It wasn't. One man touched an electric wire to see if it was dead. It wasn't. One man cut out his advertising to see if he could save money. He didn't. Good Advertising Doesn't Cost... 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