The Bluewater Youth Centre south of Goderich has closed its doors. Almost 200 staff received layoff notices. The 17 children in custody were shipped to other facilities.
Workers say they were told the layoffs were effective immediately and their severance packages will kick in right away.
Changes to Ontario’s youth justice system, implementing more community-based programs, have reduced the number of youth in jail to 370 from 1,017 in 2003, the government said.
