The report concerned the Le Boisé unit of the Centre de protection et de réadaptation pour les jeunes en difficulté d'adaptation de Lévis. It detailed disturbing practices in the day-to-day life of the teenagers housed there.
Intervention
The Protecteur du citoyen's investigation revealed practices that were questionable or deviated from the Centre's rehabilitation mandate, including:
- The large number of hours - up to 15 a day - that teenagers spend confined to their bedrooms;
- Certain periods of isolation that deprive the young people of their freedom for no reason;
- The rigid environment (silence when moving about, few planned outings, exaggerated control of medication);
- The choice of privileges (coffee, leisure activities, time with the group) granted only to young people who adopt the required behaviours.
The Protecteur du citoyen concluded that the unit, which is a health institution rather than a detention facility, did not always provide the care and services required for rehabilitation.
Recommendations
The Protecteur du citoyen issued 11 recommendations to CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches. The main aim of these recommendations was to ensure that the rights of young people in residential care are respected and that interventions are refocused on their rehabilitation.
The CISSS accepted all the recommendations. The Protecteur du citoyen will monitor their implementation closely.
