Latest news with #youthrehabilitation
CTV News
9 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
‘We're here to support you': Youth treatment facility opens Moncton office
Downtown Moncton is a little over an hour's drive from a youth rehabilitation treatment centre near Sussex, but for those in need of help it can feel like it's a world away. Portage Atlantic is located in picturesque Cassidy Lake and since 1996, staff there have been helping youth between the ages of 14 and 21 struggling with substance use disorder. The facility has 64 beds and the rehabilitation programs usually last between three to six months. Now, there's a satellite program in Moncton that doesn't require the same commitment as the live-in treatment centre located in a rural area. 'We've learned that through data collection that some of the youth who come to Portage feel that they could be better prepared for residential live-in treatment,' said Carol Tracey, the director of Corporate Development at Portage Atlantic. The new Moncton Community Care Program located in the Community Peace Centre on Church Street got up and running on Monday. The outreach program supports youth in the area who are facing challenges with substance use and mental health issues. It also educates them on what they will experience at the Portage live-in treatment 'What we're trying to do is reach youth who otherwise we haven't been able to reach. Youth who are treatment resistant or who are on the fence about coming to treatment,' said Tracey. Suzanne Boucher is a youth counsellor for the Portage Community Care Program and said it's a no commitment, non-judgement service being provided in the heart of the city. 'It's how can we help you. Let's see if we can guide you in the right direction,' said Boucher. Although only a few days old, the program is gaining traction, Boucher said, and a few people have already attended drop-in services open to both youth and their parents. Official opening Staff at the new Portage Atlantic facility opening in Moncton. (Source: Portage Atlantic) 'I think that it's going to be a big asset to the community. There's a lot of youth out there that need help, that want help, they just don't know where to go and they're scared to make that commitment,' said Boucher. 'We're here to support you.' Boucher said agreeing to get live-in treatment at the main facility is a big commitment that scares a lot of youth. 'There's a big fear of leaving your friends behind, changing your life and I think that coming here they're going to know what to expect when they're going to Cassidy Lake. There's more of a preparation,' said Boucher. Casandra Power is also a counsellor with Portage and works alongside Boucher. Power said Moncton has become a hub for many outreach services and believes other cities in the Maritimes see it that way as well. 'We do have resources here that other cities don't. We have seen the population of those who are homeless and those who are precariously housed and those who are struggling with substance use disorder get younger,' said Power. There's been a good deal of interest in the program already, according to Power. 'A lot of parents, a lot of moms, a lot of dads and a lot of youth that are interested in the program,' said Power. 'It's gained a lot more traction a lot more faster than we anticipated, which I think shows the need for it in our city.' Tracey said there's no commitment for coming to the satellite office in Moncton for a visit. 'If you just want to talk, get a little bit of guidance, know what your options are we can refer you to other programs in the city as well,' said Tracey. 'It's really a safe place for you to go and figure things out in regards to your substance use.' More details about Portage's Moncton Community Care Program and the schedule for drop-ins can be found here. Portage Atlantic Portage Atlantic opened its new outreach youth facility in Moncton. (Source: Portage Atlantic) For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
The Independent
04-07-2025
- The Independent
Teenager's sentence for killing Bhim Kohl to be reviewed
The Court of Appeal is set to review the sentence handed to a teenage boy convicted of killing Bhim Kohli, who was filmed being attacked, slapped in the face with a shoe and racially abused while walking his dog. Bhim Kohli called out for help when he was attacked in Franklin Park, Braunstone Town, near Leicester, on 1 September 2024. He died the next day with a spinal cord injury and fractured ribs. In June, Mr Justice Turner sentenced a boy, aged 15, who punched and kicked Mr Kohli, to seven years in custody, and a 13-year-old girl, who encouraged the attack by filming parts of it while laughing, to a three-year youth rehabilitation order. Both children, who cannot be named because of their age, denied their crimes but were convicted by a jury at Leicester Crown Court. A spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office said the case will be reviewed under the unduly lenient sentence scheme. The spokesperson said in a statement: 'The Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP, was appalled by this violent, cowardly attack on an innocent man. 'She wishes to express her deepest sympathies to Bhim Kohli's friends and family at this difficult time. 'After undertaking a detailed review of the case, the Solicitor General concluded the sentence of the 15-year-old boy could be referred to the Court of Appeal. 'The court will determine if the sentence is increased or not.' Mr Kohli's daughter spoke of feeling 'angry and disappointed', adding that she believes their sentences do not 'reflect the severity of the crime they committed'.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Bhim Kohli death: Boy's sentence for killing man, 80, to be reviewed
The sentence given to a 15-year-old boy who racially abused and killed an 80-year-old man in Leicestershire will be Kohli died in hospital a day after being attacked while walking his dog Rocky at Franklin Park in Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, in boy was sentenced to seven years in custody, while a 13-year-old girl who filmed and encouraged the attack was given a youth rehabilitation order of three years and made subject to a six-month curfew. Both were convicted of Attorney General's Office (AGO) has referred the case under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The AGO confirmed it had not asked to review the girl's the sentencing hearing in June, prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu KC said Mr Kohli was subjected to a "seven-and-a-half minute period of continuing aggression" at the boy racially abused Mr Kohli, attacked him and slapped him in the face with a slider shoe, while the girl laughed as she filmed it on her phone. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
Washington Post
11-06-2025
- Washington Post
Serving ‘dead time'
Washington's juvenile justice agency appeared to finally be reformed. After decades of court monitoring, a judge declared in late 2020 that the long-troubled Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services could return to the mayor's control. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) promised 'a focus on restorative justice, love, and empowerment' that would 'serve and improve the lives of our young people, their families, and our entire community.' Instead, progress at the agency – charged with setting serious and repeat teen offenders on a better path – unraveled as youth crime spiked, a Washington Post investigation found. Today on the show, investigative reporter Nicole Dungca tells 'Post Reports' co-host Elahe Izadi about some of the teens and children who spent months in a violent detention center as waits grew longer for rehabilitation programs. Read more here. If you value this reporting, please subscribe to The Washington Post. Today's episode was produced by Peter Bresnan with help from Sean Carter, who also mixed the show. It was edited by Reena Flores. Thank you to Lisa Gartner and David Fallis.
The Independent
05-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Teenagers' sentences ‘do not reflect severity of crime', say Bhim Kohli's family
The daughter of a pensioner who was racially abused, hit with a shoe and filmed being attacked when he was killed by two teenagers said she was 'angry and disappointed', saying the sentences did not reflect the crime. A 15-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl, who cannot be named because of their ages, were sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday for the manslaughter of Bhim Kohli, aged 80, who was the victim of a 'wicked' attack near his home in Franklin Park, Braunstone Town, near Leicester, on September 1 last year. Both children had denied their part in killing the elderly dog walker, who died in hospital the day after the incident, but were convicted by a jury of manslaughter in April, while the boy was cleared of murder. High Court judge Mr Justice Turner handed the boy, who was aged 14 at the time of the killing, seven years' detention, and the girl, who was aged 12, a three-year youth rehabilitation order. The court heard that Mr Kohli was racially abused when the boy pushed, kicked and punched him, while the girl encouraged him by recording parts of the attack while laughing. Sentencing the pair, the judge said: 'I am sure Mr Kohli did nothing at all to deserve what you did. What you did was wicked.' Speaking outside court after sentencing, Mr Kohli's daughter Susan said her family's 'lives had been changed forever' because of the teenagers' attack. Ms Kohli said: 'The death of my dad has left a hole in our family, a hole that can never be filled because of the actions of two teenagers on that Sunday evening last September. 'I believe on that day the two teenagers made a choice. The teenage boy chose to attack my dad and the girl chose to film him being attacked. They knew what they were doing. 'I feel angry and disappointed that the sentence they have both received today does not, I believe, reflect the severity of the crime they committed. 'However, I understand the judge has guidelines, but they have taken a life, and, as a result, our lives have been changed forever. 'When they are released, they still have their full lives ahead of them. They can rebuild their lives. We can't.' Ms Kohli added that 'more could have been done' to prevent her father's death. She said: 'If police were able to have more visible patrols in the area following the previous reports of anti-social behaviour, then dad could still be alive today. 'We don't want any other family to endure the pain and heartbreak that we have of losing someone this way.' Ms Kohli said her father and some other neighbours had previously been subjected to assaults and racial abuse, and had reported two incidents to police. She said she thought her father would 'still be here' if there had been more of a police presence in the area. A Leicestershire Police investigation found there was 'no misconduct or missed opportunities which could have prevented' Mr Kohli's death. The force said in a statement: 'Organisational learning was identified in relation to logging and tagging incidents of anti-social behaviour. As part of our continual improvements in this area, discussion began at the start of 2024, leading to a new system which is now in place. 'We would always encourage you, our communities, to report anti-social behaviour incidents and concerns to the police or to your local council as soon as possible.'
