NORTH BATTLEFORD — The days appear numbered for Drumming Hill Youth Centre as a youth facility, but future plans for the facility have not been finalized.
The province has confirmed that youth at the North Battleford facility are being transferred to other open custody facilities, and that there is work being done to re-purpose the facility towards expanding mental health and addictions services.
The following is the statement received by SASKTODAY.ca from the Ministry of Justice:
"The number of youths in custody in Saskatchewan continues to decline. As a result, work is underway to re-purpose the Drumming Hill Youth Centre with the intent to expand access to mental health and addictions services. The Ministry of Health will conduct consultations and a needs assessment for the region.
"Youth currently at Drumming Hill Youth Centre will be transferred to other provincial youth open custody facilities. Further information will be communicated to the public once plans for the facility have been finalized."