ews reporter gs joins inmates From page 4 All three agri with Weber that the residents of the custody centres should be gerting regular treatment for their problems. There is no sex offender treatment available on the facility’s secure side. Anger management and drug and alcohol counselling is offered tor some inmates on a case- by-case basis. “We could always use more resources, — more counsellors, more teachers,” said Morris. But the treatment that is offered at the centres is an extra, because rehabilitation is not part of the centre’s mandate: “To make the best, most productive use of the time they have with us,” said Morris. “Or at least, have them leave no more marked, or scarred, or hurt then when they arrived.” “There's also the securi- ty,” said Faoro. “The protec- tion of the community.” It’s hard to believe the community is in much dan- ger from the Magnolia Unit: the dozen girls who file into the gymnasium of the secure custody centre for a spccial dinner one week before Christmas. Despite their offences: ’ property crimes, assault, murder — these are still teenage girls full of laughter - —- eyeing and whispering about the approximately 90 male residents of the cen- tre. “There he is!” “Don’t look now.” _ “That one. You know him on the outs.” - w. Tt feels like summer camp. Almost. ' > “A gaily wrapped parcel is slipped to one girl at the “table by a resident from - another unit. * “It’s not from me,” he says. , ©. She opens the card and sends the package back, unopened. > “I can’t take it. 1 don’t want it.” The gift-was from a “skin- ner” or. scx offender, con- fides one of the girls at the table. “We don’t like those kind around here.” The armosphere suddenly seems more sinister, more pre-dinner tour of both secure and open cus- tody had left brief but pow- erful impressions. The open custody cent once served as a residence for nursing students at BCIT, w the secure cus- tody centre was once a school for wayward girls. The common rooms in the units have a few seats, tiny, bare cells. In cach unit, at least one corrections officer — kept watch over residents as they relaxed before dinner. At Unit Four, Faoro unlocked the door. Feet propped up on a shelf, one youth sat watching TV while others stood talking behind him. “All the kids in here are in for fairly serious offences,” he said, as he checked some paperwork on the wall next to the door. . “Oh yeah murder.” Staff try to keep those kids who are likely to victim- ize others apart from less sophisticated, inexperienced kids, said Faoro. It’s a con- stant challenge. They usually only come into contact with the other residents in their unit, but everyone gets to attend he Christmas dinner togeth- er. After the meal of pizza, spaghetti, hor dogs, turkey, stuffing, potatoes, salad and dessert, all given a greenish hue thanks to the fluorescent lights of the gym, the kids are treated to a show by visi- tors. A lion dance is pertormed by two young men, and 3 young woman sings Christmas carols accompa- nied by a karaoke machine It’s during her rendition of I’il Be Home for Christmas — the karaoke’s reverb bouncing off the walls of the gym — that one of the girls from Magnolia starts to cry. “PIL be home — for Christmas,” sings the per- former, reading the words from a CD cover. “If only in my dreams.” wall for _ Awaken to a Program of Hope & Healing CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SENTINEL Radio Edition Talk with Attitude EVERY SUNDAY 7:30 A.M. eA Na NEWS photo Cindy Goodman . Dusting buses TRANSIT operator Wayne Braaten dusts off snow from buses parked at the 3rd Street depot after the snow- fall on Sunday. A predicted week of snowfall evaporated as temperatures warmed up Monday. MAKE IT YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION TC EAT HEALTHY Sweet Navel SMALL ORANGES 2**1,00 Sweet Crunchy California Snap Top CARROTS | 33 Park Royal epee Centre - 922-8926