A new report says a culture of silence reigned over a Montreal Youth Detention Center where female employees are accused of sexually abusing residents, and at least one worker became pregnant.
The document published today on Cité-des-Prairies Rehabilitation Center is the result of an investigation into the establishment ordered by the Quebec government after a report by La Presse in October.
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After the report was published, youth protection authorities told reporters that four employees had been fired – two of them for sexual abuse – while two managers remained suspended without pay.
They claim that at least one employee became pregnant following a sexual relationship with a resident of the center, which houses some of the most troubled young men in Quebec’s youth protection system, most of whom have committed crimes, including murder.
Several other employees remain suspended and Montreal police are conducting a criminal investigation after La Presse revealed allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct.
Assunta Gallo, head of youth protection at the south-central Montreal health authority, says employees were afraid of reprisals if they reported inappropriate situations.
This is a corrected story. A previous version said all four firings were related to sexual allegations.
© 2024 The Canadian Press