DOC to unveil new juvenile facility in May
After years of housing juvenile inmates in the same facility as adult inmates, the Department of Corrections plans to unveil its new Juvenile Facility in May.
In an interview with DOC Commissioner Anthony Torres, he shares that one of his priorities since coming into office over a year ago was to rehouse juvenile detainees.
The CNMI’s juvenile inmates have been housed at DOC along with adult inmates since the Kagman Juvenile Facility closed over eight years ago.
“When I got [to DOC], it was one of my top priorities to get our juveniles rehoused while continuing to oversee them and continue to work with them with the help of the Division of Youth services. However, I needed to get a facility to ensure I’m in compliance so I can implement more programs for them,” he said.
In May, the goal is expected to become a reality as renovations to the Manhoben Care Center—which DOC recently acquired to serve as the new Juvenile detention center—is nearly complete.
“It’s been a long time coming but we’re almost there. The renovation process started around January. I want to thank the Department of Public Safety for working with me in giving me the old facility they were using for offices. Once we got that back, we were able to start renovating. It could have been a lot sooner but moving forward, I’m grateful and happy we’re getting close to the point of completion,” he said.
Torres said he is shooting to open the facility up in the first week of May.
“Our outreach inmates are aggressively getting that place ready so we can hit that target date. We’re really grateful and fortunate that we’re going to complete that soon,” he said.
“I want to thank SNILD, for [helping us] with some of the funding to renovate the facility. I want to thank Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, Department of Public Lands, and of course the Office of Grants Management for helping us acquire second-hand air conditioners for the facility,” he added.
Anthony Torres
