Sexual misconduct scandal at a Montreal juvenile detention center

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An investigation is underway at the East End Youth Offender Detention Center, where at least nine instructors were allegedly involved in sexual misconduct with inmates, including at least one instance of full intercourse.

Two managers have been suspended and the instructors involved suspended or fired amid an ongoing investigation into incidents at the Cité-des-Prairies resort in Rivière-des-Prairies, according to the watchdog health authority.

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He first learned of the alleged misconduct on Thursday this year La Presse AND Le Devourwho reported that in the last two years at least nine instructors had sexual relations with at least five inmates, and at least one of the instructors gave birth to a child whose father was a minor inmate.

The CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal did not confirm these details pending the results of its investigation, but noted that it had been informed of nine teachers potentially involved in misconduct, including at least one reported case of sexual intercourse sexual abuse and sexual exchanges on social media.

The health authority on Friday declined a request to speak to its director of youth protection, but said in an email that it had launched an independent investigation by an outside firm after learning of allegations of sexual misconduct involving an inmate .

“Through this report, we discovered other elements that led our organization to launch an investigation,” the health authority said. “This type of situation is unacceptable and we take these allegations very seriously. (…) Our priority is to guarantee the safety and well-being of young people.”

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The CIUSSS explained that during the investigation, both managers were temporarily removed from their positions “because the issue directly affected their teams.”

“We responded immediately to protect young people affected by these situations,” the CIUSSS said. “We have put in place support measures for the alleged victims and their families.”

Quebec Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, called the contents of La Presse’s report “more than disturbing,” noting that an ongoing police investigation “is intended to shed light on all the facts.”

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“We will never tolerate situations like this,” Carmant wrote. “The exploitation of vulnerable young people is a criminal act and is subject to prosecution and conviction. We will do everything to ensure the protection and safety of the young people for whom we are responsible.”

Citing confidentiality, Montreal police did not confirm whether an investigation had been launched.

In a statement Friday morning, Liberal MNA Brigitte Garceau, an opposition youth protection critic, called on Carmant to launch a province-wide investigation into all youth and rehabilitation centers in Quebec.

“The director of the youth protection network continues to accumulate scandalous stories for which the minister has been responsible for six years,” Garceau said. “Is he even aware of what is happening on his network?”

Garceau added that she was disgusted by the situation in Cité-des-Prairies.

“This story chills my blood,” she said. “If we no longer feel that our young people in rehabilitation centers are safe, where should we send them?”

Cité-des-Prairies mainly houses criminals under the age of 18 who have committed serious crimes, including murder, drug trafficking, firearms offenses and pimping. According to the CIUSSS, this is the center where the most complex cases of this type are sent in Montreal.

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The group representing instructors working in such centers, the Association des éducatrices et éducateurs spécialisés du Québec, said on Friday the “unacceptable” situation in Cité-des-Prairies is an example of why the profession should be regulated by a professional. order.

Spokesman Sylvain Ratel said the association had been asking for it for a decade.

“Today we see all kinds of consequences” of the lack of a warrant, he said.

One of the problems is that employers may employ people with diplomas other than those related to specialized education who are not qualified for the position, Ratel explained.

This is particularly problematic because the profession involves working with some of the most vulnerable people in society.

“There is a shortage of nurses, but we do not employ people who are not nurses to practice,” Ratel said. “There is a shortage of dental hygienists, but neither do we. Why? Because they are regulated and have a legal structure, this doesn’t happen.”

He stressed that if Cité-des-Prairies employees under investigation were subject to the order, they would likely lose their license to practice. While they may lose their current job, HR records are confidential, so “there’s nothing stopping them from finding another (job) and future employers won’t know what happened,” Ratel said. This means that misconduct may continue elsewhere.

The CIUSSS said it expects to receive the results of its investigation this fall.

“In the meantime, we are actively identifying preventive measures and improving our practices to ensure that such situations are immediately reported and resolved,” it said.

People wishing to report information may do so confidentially by calling 514-896-3100.

[email protected]

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