INTRODUCTION

The Prince George Youth Custody Centre is an Open/Secure (36 beds and 24 beds) facility to serve the north and interior. It houses both males and females from ages 12 to 18.

This package is intended to provide you with most of the information you will require to make your stay here as trouble free as possible.

It is your responsibility to read and understand the contents of this package. If you have any difficulties in understanding any of the information, please ask any staff member for assistance.

ORGANIZATION OF PGYCC

Each day there will be a number of staff on shift who will supervise your activities.

Youth Supervisors (Unit Officers) will be directly supervising residents in the Living Units and during programs.

The Senior Correctional Officer or S.C.O. is in charge of the shift.

There are Directors responsible for Programs and Operations.

The Director of the Centre is responsible for the overall operation and management of PGYCC.

Unless staff give permission, no resident shall be in any area of the Centre except the Living Units.

1. It is each residents responsibility to be familiar with the Centre Rules and Regulations as

posted in the Living Unit as well as any new memos.

2. Residents shall keep themselves, clothing, and room clean and orderly at all times.

3. Residents shall not leave their room, classroom, place of work or recreation unless a staff

member gives permission to do so.

4. Residents shall attend school and comply with the directions of the teacher, as directed.

5. Residents shall complete all chores and other work duties assigned to them.

6. Residents shall comply with any reasonable directions given them by a youth supervisor.

7. Residents shall not use rude, abusive or insulting language or gestures.

8. Residents shall not engage in sexual foreplay or intercourse.

9. Residents shall not take or be in possession of another persons property for their own use or the use of another person.

10. Residents shall not attempt, plan, threaten or actually harm another person or help others to do so.

11. Residents shall not attempt, plan, or actually create or participate in a disturbance or riot or help others to do so.

12. Residents shall not help or convince anyone to attempt to or actually escape lawful custody or be unlawfully at large, or plan to, attempt to or actually escape lawful custody or be unlawfully at large themselves.

13. Residents shall not have possession of contraband, attempt to obtain, give or knowingly receive contraband or any other object which may threaten the proper management, good order, discipline or security of the Centre. This includes drugs, weapons, cigarettes, matches, lighters or another persons property.

14. Residents shall not attempt or actually damage property of help others to do so.

15. Residents shall not commit, attempt, plan, assist or help others to commit an offense prohibited by Federal or Provincial Statutes. This means when you are in custody you are bound by the same laws as when you are on the outside.

16. Residents shall not enter onto any Living Unit Pod other than the one assigned to him/her.

17. Residents shall not enter into any resident room other than the one assigned to him/her.

18. Residents shall not tattoo themselves or others.

19. Residents shall address staff as Mr/Ms/Mrs, Officer, Sir or Ma'am. No nicknames or first names are to be used.

20. Residents shall not engage in gambling or horseplay.

21. Residents shall not smoke or possess cigarettes, matches or lighters.

22. Residents shall treat PGYCC property respectfully and in accordance with its intended use (i.e., no standing on furniture, no sitting on tables, etc.).

23. Residents shall not swear or use foul language.

24. Only one resident is allowed in washrooms, laundry rooms or janitors rooms at one time.

25. Residents shall not have shaved heads as hair cuts. Brush cuts, cut by the barber, are acceptable. Shaved heads are unacceptable at this facility.

26. RESIDENTS BREACHING CENTRE RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS.

DISCIPLINE

Breaches

Breaches of Centre rules and regulations will be dealt with by supervising staff according to the severity of the breach. Consequences may involve a reprimand, extra work duties, loss of wages, time-out in room or quiet room, recommendations to postpone or cancel a Temporary Absence or a Section 29 Review, or even criminal charges.

Any disciplinary action taken against you may be grieved to the Director of PGYCC.

Complaint Process

Step #1: Complete Resident Complaint form and we will try to resolve the complaint internally.

Step #2: If you are not satisfied, you may phone our Regional Complaint Manager in Prince George at 565-4367. The Regional Complaint Manager will attempt to resolve the complaint.

Step #3: If still not satisfied, you may contact the Children's Commission by writing or phoning:

Children's Commission

P.O. Box 9207, Stn. Prov. Gov't.

Victoria, BC V8W 9J1

Toll Free: 1-800-859-1441

PGYCC DAILY ROUTINE

MONDAY - FRIDAY (EXCLUDING HOLIDAYS

DAILY CHORES

As you can see by the daily routine you have to do chores every day. The following sheet will be posted in your unit every morning. To tell what chore you have for the day simply find your name on the daily chore sheet. Be sure to read the two sheets titled Common Area Chore Definitions so that you do the assigned chore properly. Remember you are responsible for cleaning your room every day as well.

MAINTAINING CONTACT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

While here at PGYCC there are three ways you can keep in contact with your family and friends.

1. Telephone Calls:

Upon admission or once in the Unit, you will be asked to fill out a request form to

include immediate family you would like approved for phone calls and visits (mother,

father, brothers, sisters, grandparents). This will be submitted to the Records Office for

approval. Business calls (lawyers, probation officers, social workers, etc.) are unlimited

but are expected to be made during business hours.

The number of personal calls you are permitted depends on your Phase Level (to be

explained further on. Please be patient waiting for your request to be approved by the

Records Office as there are several people outside the Centre who must give their

approval for the phone/visit list.

2. Visits:

You are permitted two family visits per week. Again, these must be approved by the

Records Office.

The following schedule shall apply:

Special visit times/days may be approved for residents with families who live out of

town. Please have your parents/family contact the Records Office two days before they

would like to visit so we have to make the necessary arrangements.

All local visits must be phoned in to book on the previous day, prior to noon, as this is

how the computer does it. The exception: Monday visits must be booked Saturday before noon.

3. Letters/Correspondence:

All persons with whom correspondence is requested must also be approved by the

Records Office.

VISIT REGULATIONS

THE FOLLOWING VISIT REGULATIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED BY EVERY VISITOR:

1. Visit times are:

Monday evenings Secure Custody 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday evenings Open Custody 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Saturday mornings Open Custody 10:30 - 12 noon

Saturday afternoons Secure Custody 1:45 - 2:45 p.m.

2. All visits must be booked prior to 12:00 noon the previous day with the exception that Monday night visits must be booked by Saturday noon.

3. Visitors are to arrive 15 minutes prior to the time of the scheduled visit. This is to allow time for the entrance and search procedure to be completed.

4. The visit will be denied if a visitor arrives after visits have begun.

5. A hug and kiss is permitted only at the beginning and end of a visit. No other body conduct is permitted.

6. Visitors may visit only one resident at a time.

7. Three adult visitors may visit a resident. Visitors younger than 18 years must be approved previous to the visit. They must also be accompanied by an adult (parent/guardian) for the duration of the visit.

8. It is the responsibility of visitors to supervise their children and to ensure they remain seated at the tables provided.

9. No visitor may bring in or receive any article from a resident unless a prior authorization has been given.

10. Visitors may leave money for the resident being visited. A receipt will be issued by the officer signing the

visitor in.

11. All visitors are required to produce identification prior to being permitted a visit.

12. Visitors are required to lock their personal belongings in the lockers provided in the main lobby.

13. Visitors have the legal right to refuse to be searched but this may result in the visitor being denied.

14. Anyone suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be granted entrance and the visit will be denied.

15. Any visit may be terminated for suspected or actual breach of Centre Rules and Regulations and the visitor(s) will be requested to leave the premises.

CENTRE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS

Many different programs and recreational activities may be available to you depending on whether you are open or closed custody, your behaviour and your phase level. These can include:

- School

- Work Programs

- Medical Services

- Church Services

- Outside Ball Field

- Secure Courtyard

- Hobby Room

- Woodwork/Metalwork Shops

- Board Games, Television, Movies, Ghettoblaster (available in Units)

- Barber Shop

- Lifeskills

- Anger Management

- Drug and Alcohol Counselling

- Family Violence Sessions

Information on some of the more prominent programs and services available to you here is included in this manual. If you are interested in any of the other programs available, or need more information, ask your Unit Officer, Case Manager, teacher or any of the people listed below.

CONTACT PEOPLE

Director

Director of Operations

Director of Programs

School Vice Principal

Case Management Coordinator/Youth Court Worker

Chaplain

Hobbies Coordinator

Young Women's Program Coordinator

Recreation Coordinator

COLLEGE HEIGHTS SECONDARY SCHOOL AT PGYCC

COURSE & REGISTRATION INFO

A There is only one thing you can control ... yourself.@

Student Information

Welcome to College Heights Secondary School, School District 57, Prince George, British Columbia. Please read the following information carefully so you can decide which will be the best for you now and in your future. If you have concerns or questions ask the Unit teacher or the school vice principal. Many of the officers will also help, just ask.

Where will I be going to school?

You will be registered at College Heights Secondary School (CHSS) not the Prince George Youth Custody Centre (PGYCC). All your school records will be maintained by CHSS teachers and support staff who work here in the Centre. All your classes will be provided here on site in classrooms, shops, library, gymnasium and secure field. We hope to change your feelings about learning so you will not return to crime when you leave our school.

CHOOSE TO CHANGE ~ ~ ~ CHOOSE TO LEARN

What courses do I take?

The core courses are fully recognizable academic credit courses for Grades eight through 12 and can be transferred to any public school in British Columbia. If you are not ready for these grades, don't worry about it, we still have several programs for you to earn regular school credits.

You will be expected to take courses from two areas while attending the PGYCC/CHSS programs. All students register in CORE courses and ELECTIVE courses in our school.

What is a CORE course or ELECTIVE course?

The CORE courses are mandatory (compulsory - have to do it) which means you must take three courses from a list of six.

The ELECTIVE courses are optional (a choice, free to choose one), however, you cannot sign up for these courses until all core courses are selected. You can only select one optional course at a time. When you complete all your core courses you can take more electives.

REMEMBER IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ASK STAFF

When do I start?

All residents must wait at least three school days before they will be classified by the Principal Officer of Admissions. If you are sentenced for less than thirty (30) days you will not be classified to our school (unless you have special permission).

What do I do to get into school?

You must talk to the teacher for your unit in the morning and see if there is an opening. If you are classified for school then you can go when there is an opening.

THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE

Our Mission Statement

CHOOSE TO CHANGE ~ ~ ~ CHOOSE TO LEARN

PGYCC SCHOOL SHOP PROBATION

97-08-25

Aim

To ensure personal safety for staff and residents.

Students may be required to complete a probation period to ensure they meet safety requirements for this unique classroom environment.

Procedure

- Residents shall be considered for classification into school shops at the weekly multi- disciplinary meeting.

- Residents may be classified with a probation period to ensure their behaviour will be safe

in the shop classroom.

- The shop teacher will be responsible to evaluate each resident's probation period and

recommend to the Classification Committee full time access to school shops or removal

from shop classes.

- Probation period will be a minimum of two weeks up to a maximum of one month.

SCHOOL GUIDELINES FOR NEW WAGE/PHASE REVIEW

Attitude: (the following guidelines are appropriate for all classes)

- participates in class discussion in a positive and constructive manner

- participates in class activities in a positive and constructive manner

- does task willingly

- no swearing

- no putdowns/name calling

- works independently without bothering classmates

- does not require constant reminders to settle down, be quiet, etc.

Performance:

1. I.E.P.:

discretion).

2. Second Step:

3. P.E.:

4. Library:

5. Special Topics:

6. Shop:

PASTORAL CARE AT PGYCC

Pastoral Care

Who am I? Why am I alive? What is my purpose in life? Why should I bother? Does anybody care about me? Am I crazy? Is there hope for me? Maybe you've asked questions like these and wondered if there are answers that make any sense. Pastoral care is provided at PGYCC to help you as you struggle with the meaning of your life and seek to find answers to your questions.

No matter what your background is, your personal religious beliefs are respected and supported. If you have no religious beliefs or not sure of what they are, we are here for you too. If you wish to see a representative of your own faith or religious group, please speak to the Chaplain and he will seek to arrange it for you.

Pastor Bill

Pastor Bill is the Chaplain at PGYCC. He is here to listen when you want to talk, reassure you when the going gets rough, help you to understand yourself, and support the changes you want to make in your life. Besides being a good guy to talk to, he is in charge of religious programs at PGYCC so if you have questions or a problem, just ask him.

Pastoral Care Program

You are free to participate in any of the pastoral care programs that you choose. Though this won't earn you any brownie points, you will find people who care about you and what you are going through.

CHURCH SERVICES

Church services take place on Sunday evening each week. They provide you an opportunity for you to express your faith, explore what you believe and to experience God's love through singing and interaction with volunteers from local churches.

CLOSED CUSTODY 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

OPEN CUSTODY 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.

ONE ON ONE

Pastor Bill is available for support and a listening ear. Besides Pastor Bill, there are also several Pastoral Care Volunteers who come in regularly. If you would like someone

to visit you on a regular basis, let Pastor Bill know and he will arrange it.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Concerts, World Vision 30 hour famine, on teams, etc.

INTER-FAITH OPPORTUNITIES

If you are part of a religious group or church you can access religious materials or make

arrangements for a visit with a religious leader through Pastor Bill.

The following resources are available for your use, just ask Pastor Bill.

BIBLES

You are welcome to borrow a Bible to read and study. In addition to regular Bibles, we

have Picture Bibles for those who are new to reading the Bible. Some Teen Study Bibles

are also available.

BIBLE STUDY COURSES

A great way to learn about God is through Gospel Echoes Bible Studies. There are 8 different lessons that you can do on your own and are sent out for marking. After completing the first 4 lessons you are sent a Bible with your name printed on the cover.

No prior Bible knowledge is necessary for this course.

BOOKS

A variety of interesting books and booklets are available including: true-life stories,

fiction, devotional, self-help, Campus Journal, etc.

MAGAZINES

Breakaway for guys and Brio for girls. Indian life, etc.

OTHER

If there is some religious material that you need but haven't been able to find, speak to Pastor Bill.

PROBLEMS

If you are feeling frustrated that you are somehow not able to get what you are needing, contact the Pastor the next time you see him or make a written request to see him.

WORK PROGRAMS

Here at PGYCC a resident can become involved in a wide variety of work projects both inside and outside of the Centre. You can be assigned janitorial duties, maintenance tasks, wood and metal shop projects and landscaping duties.

Frequently you will have the opportunity to take part in community projects where you can leave the Centre under direct supervision of the work programs officer. In the past residents have enjoyed helping with the Children's Festival, the Folkfest, Forestry projects such as seed cone picking and tree planting, helping at the S.P.C.A. as well as City projects such as landscaping and sign work.

The work programs of PGYCC can offer you an opportunity to learn new skills, compliment your academic achievements and improve your work placement upon release.

Most open custody residents are approved automatically for working outside the Centre on the Centre grounds. If you are eligible for on grounds work, the work programs officer may contact you.

At the Centre our priority is to encourage all residents to attend school. Therefore the work programs endeavors to go hand in hand with this policy. Many residents find that attending school on a half time basis allows them to participate fully in both programs which is a definite plus.

There are certain prerequisites that must be fulfilled before you can be classified to off grounds work program. These include your behaviour, attitude, phase level, length of sentence and your history of escapes.

There is also specialty work placements that may be available to you such as laundry worker who works in the admissions/discharge area doing the institutional laundry and other tasks associated with admissions/discharge area.

If you are interested in any of the work programs available contact your Case Manager or send a special request to the Work Programs Officer outlining any skills or interests you have that you think may help you on work programs.

MEDICAL SERVICES

If you have any medical concerns there is a nurse on duty from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. All new residents are received by the nurse upon admission. Our doctor visits the Centre twice a week and there is a psychologist and dentist available as well. If there are any medical problems or questions ask your Unit Officer to contact the nurse.

CASE MANAGEMENT

Regardless of whether you are sentenced to open custody or secure custody, if you are sentenced to more than 30 days you will be assigned an officer to act as your case manager. Your case manager helps you plan your goals and monitor your progress by meeting with you every month. There is an on-site probation officer who may be able

to help you with any questions regarding your sentence. The on-site probation officer will act as your case manager if you are here for less than 30 days or if you are on remand. While in custody you may be eligible for either a Temporary Absence or a Court Review. Requests for these two options should go through your case manager. To know whether you are eligible please read the following sections titled Temporary Absence Guidelines and Court Reviews.

TEMPORARY ABSENCE GUIDELINES

A Temporary Absence (T.A.) may be granted to youths sentenced to Secure or Open custody. In practice, Temporary Absences are granted to Open custody and should be granted with a view toward pre-release transition to the community. TA's may also be granted in special family or medical emergencies, special occasions such as Christmas or for outings planned and supervised by staff.

Applications for T.A.'s are kept in each Living Unit staff station (see the next page for an example of this form).

Residents should ask their Case Manager for assistance in filling out the form but may ask the Unit Officer who will then forward it to the appropriate Case Manager.

The Case Manager will then forward the application to the Senior Correctional Officer who will comment and forward to the Case Management Coordinator who will check the plan, contact the necessary parties and forward to the appropriate Director for his/her authorization.

If approved, the Case Management Coordinator will ensure that the authorization for the T.A. is prepared, explained to and signed by the youth.

If denied, the Case Management Coordinator will ensure that the reasons for the denial and the procedure for appeal is explained to the resident.