REGINA CHILDREN'S JUSTICE CENTRE OFFICIALLY OPENED

Released on November 17, 1997

Justice Minister John Nilson, Social Services Minister Lorne Calvert

and Deputy Chief Clive Weighill of the Regina Police Service today

officially opened the Regina Children's Justice Centre.



"This is the first facility in Canada to have teams of social workers

and police officers on-site, in a child-friendly environment, jointly

investigating allegations of child abuse," Nilson said. "The Victims

Services Program of Saskatchewan Justice supported the pilot project

to reduce trauma to child victims and today we are very pleased to

celebrate the permanent establishment of the Children's Justice

Centre."



The centre's investigation teams act on all reports of child abuse in

Regina, including allegations of sexual assault, physical abuse and

serious neglect referred from the community through the police, Mobile

Crisis Services or the Department of Social Services. Investigation

teams also work closely with the Regina Health District's Child and

Family Medical Services and with the Crown Prosecutors' Child Abuse

Team to ensure co-ordination throughout the handling of an allegation.



"Our children are our future," Calvert said. "The quality of that

future depends upon how we care for our children today. All children

have the right to grow up feeling safe, loved and valued. When a

child's safety and well-being are violated by abuse, that child must

be assured of a caring, compassionate and professional response, the

kind of response provided by the Regina Children's Justice Centre."



The centre's child-friendly interview rooms are furnished with

audio-visual equipment so interviews can be viewed from another

room and taped for use in court or by professionals working with

the child.



"Three years ago our agencies pioneered the concept of partnering

police officers with social workers to investigate child abuse,"

Deputy Chief Clive Weighill said. "The project was so successful

that we have now moved into the next phase with the establishment

of the Regina Children's Justice Centre. We are proud to be one

partner in this unique program which demonstrates a concerted

commitment to the safety of children."



The three-year pilot of the Regina Children's Justice Centre was

jointly supported by the Victims Services Program of Saskatchewan

Justice, Saskatchewan Social Services and the Regina Police

Service. All three will work with the Regina Health District and

with the community to support the continuing work of the centre.



- 30 -



For more information, contact:



Katrine McKenzie, Director Virginia Wilkinson, Director

Victims Services Communications

Justice Social Services

Regina Regina

Phone: (306)536-3916, cell Phone: (306)787-0916

(306)787-0418



Elizabeth Popowich

Public Information Officer

Regina Police Service

Phone: (306)777-6364