PHILIPSBURG--The Miss Lalie Centre is expected to be repositioned as a dedicated youth rehabilitation facility focused on children under 18, with young adults eventually moving to the new Point Blanche prison.
The Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling told Parliament that the future model for the Miss Lalie Centre would move away from its current role as primarily a detention facility for young adults.
Young adults between 18 and 21 are intended to transition to the new Point Blanche facility, which is designed to include a separate young adult ward and regime. The proposed Miss Lalie model would place greater emphasis on rehabilitation, education, psychosocial and specialist support, safeguarding, family engagement and reintegration.
Preventative, diversionary and community-based approaches for at-risk youth would also form part of the model. The existing facility is expected to require refurbishment and repurposing, with expansion options also being considered.
Tackling said construction or major changes would take place from 2028, after the second phase of Point Blanche is completed and young adults have transitioned to the new facility. The changes are intended to allow the Miss Lalie Centre to provide a more specialised, child-focused rehabilitation service.
