Robert Riley Saunders, a 54-year-old former case worker for the Ministry of Children and Family Development, has been denied full parole by the Parole Board of Canada. Saunders was convicted in 2022 for stealing over $460,000 from the ministry in the names of vulnerable Indigenous youth. Despite positive progress, the board raised concerns about the extent and nature of Saunders’s fraudulent activities, which spanned over two decades.
The British Columbia Ombudsperson, Jay Chalke, has expressed disappointment and concern over the Ministry of Children and Family Development’s lack of progress in reducing the isolation of youth in custody. Despite a 2021 report highlighting the alarming prevalence and harmful effects of solitary confinement, the ministry has failed to fully implement the recommendations. Youth in custody, particularly Indigenous and racialized girls, continue to be subjected to prolonged isolation, limited supports, and instances of force. The ombudsperson has called on the ministry to account for its delay and ensure more humane treatment of youth awaiting trial or serving sentences.
The Saskatchewan Advocate for Children and Youth’s 2023 annual report paints a concerning picture of the challenges confronting the province’s youth. The report emphasizes the prevalence of suicide attempts, mental health and addiction struggles, lack of access to services, and systemic factors contributing to adverse outcomes. Indigenous youth, in particular, face disproportionate challenges, with 81% of children in care being Indigenous and a 30-fold higher rate of incarceration compared to non-Indigenous youth.
British Columbia’s ombudsperson has sharply criticized the Ministry of Children and Family Development for its inaction in addressing youth isolation in custody. Despite recommendations in a 2021 report to limit and abolish prolonged isolation, the ministry has made little progress, according to a new update by the ombudsperson. Vulnerable youth, particularly Indigenous youth, continue to face significant harm from solitary confinement.
