Youth correctional facilities in Saskatoon and Yorkton shutting down

The provincial government is closing two youth correctional facilities in Saskatoon and Yorkton.

The Yarrow Youth Farm, located just outside the city of Saskatoon, and Yorkton's Orcadia Youth Residence will be closed as of March 31st.

It's not clear what will happen to the Saskatoon facility, located on roughly 40 acres of land on the outskirts of the city. Yorkton's Orcadia Youth Residence will be converted into a jail for adult offenders.

The Ministry of Justice says the facilities are being closed due to a lack of young offenders serving prison sentences. Saskatchewan's youth custody facilities are running at 50 per cent capacity, leading to inefficiencies.

"We've seen the number of young offenders decline significantly since about 1997," said Associate Deputy Minister of Custody, Supervision and Rehabilitation Services Dennis Cooley. "In 1997, there were about 180 kids in secure custody. And now, in secure custody, we're down to around 60. And this is true across Canada."

While youth facilities are at low capacity, adult inmates are packed into provincial cells. The conversion of the Orcadia Youth Residence, along with new units being added to the Prince Albert Correctional Centre and Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford should help with that problem.

"We acknowledge that we have some space issues, but we're actively taking steps to address the issue," said Cooley.

The 11 full-time and 21 part-time staff at Yarrow will be allowed to transfer to other facilities, like Saskatoon's Kilburn Hall. Workers at Orcadia will be allowed to stay at the facility as it converts to an adult jail.

The Yarrow Youth Farm has enough capacity for 14 offenders. Orcadia has enough space for 39 offenders.

All of the young offenders in the two facilities will be transferred to other youth facilities in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and North Battleford.