New juvenile facility to be unveiled on May 6

The Manhoben Care Center in Susupe, which will now serve as the Department of Corrections’ juvenile facility, will officially be unveiled on May 6.

In an interview with DOC Commissioner Anthony Torres, he shared that they will officially be unveiling the new juvenile facility, also known as the Manhoben Care Center in Susupe, on May 6.

Torres previously shared 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.

DOC recently acquired the center to serve as the new juvenile detention center.

“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,” he said.

“I want to thank the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation 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