by Derek Neary
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 04/98) - Four young offenders who made a run for it as their van pulled up to a church last Sunday in Fort Smith were returned to custody four hours later.

The boys, from the River Ridge Young Offenders Centre, were accompanied by custodial staff but they bolted when the van stopped in the church parking lot around 11 a.m.

A search was conducted by the RCMP, River Ridge staff and a community constable. The boys were found in various locations around the town.

"It was a community effort," RCMP Cpl. L.D. Wright said of the short-lived manhunt.

John Dillon, director of corrections for the Department of Justice, said the focus with young offenders is on re-integration into the community. Those who are not considered dangerous are given opportunities to begin functioning within the community, even though that entails a chance to escape. He added that the offenders earn "outside privileges" through time served and proper conduct.

"What people really have to realize is that every young offender gets out (of custody) at some time," Dillon added. "It's far better for us to have re-integrated the child back into society than it is for us to have keep him locked away from family and friends and everything normal."

Three of the escapees are 18 years old will appear in adult court on charges of being unlawfully at large.

The other will be disciplined within the young offenders facility.

"Obviously, he won't be going to church next week," Dillon said.