The Vermont Department of Children and Families is reviewing its plans to establish a secure juvenile facility. The issue made its way to the state’s highest court to build a new facility in Newbury, Vermont, after the closure of the state’s only secure juvenile facility the Woodside Rehab Center in Colchester.Now the department is exploring building it in South Burlington or Vergennes.”We are juggling some very difficult resource issues and we really need this secure facility so that we can take care of these kids who are all of our kids, who impact our communities and just desperately need help,” said Chris Winters, Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families.The issue is personal for one mother calling for justice after her 14-year-old son was killed in a shooting in Addison County last year.Kelly Gouveia said the last four months have been hard for her family, and that time made it even harder to heal knowing her son’s alleged killer has no secure place to go.”It’s hurtful, like I said this is more hurtful than a lot of things, it feels like nobody cares… and he deserves justice he really does,” Gouveia said. “They said the reason why he’s not in is because there’s not a safe place to put him…and that hurts me.”The incident dates back to October 2023, Vermont State Police say 14-year-old Huessin Mohamed was in a car with 14-year-old Madden Gouveia.Court records indicate the teens were driving around Bristol, Vermont with a gun.Authorities say Mohamed was in the back seat with the gun when Gouveia was shot, he later died at the hospital.Mohamed’s age has played a major factor in this case including how and where he can be held.An Addison County judge placed him under house arrest only allowed to leave his home for school, medical appointments, court appearances, and religious services.Gouveia’s mother says it’s not enough. “It’s not like I want him to go to jail forever… he’s a child,” Gouveia said. “He needs to take responsibility, whether it was an accident or not and until that…he should have been placed until we know.”Hussein Mohamed is being charged as an adult for second-degree murder.The Department of Children and Families has worked to improve the system of care to provide resources for young people who could be a danger to themselves or the community.”It has been a long time coming and we’ve had to change plans. We’ve had to make a Plan B and a Plan C because of legal issues, because of court cases, because of community opposition and in some instances, said Winters. “We are seriously making progress. now, the temporary facility is ready to go.”The department is now finalizing agreements with providers who will be providing treatment in a temporary location in Middlesex, Vermont before opening a bigger permanent location in the future.
The Vermont Department of Children and Families is reviewing its plans to establish a secure juvenile facility.
The issue made its way to the state’s highest court to build a new facility in Newbury, Vermont, after the closure of the state’s only secure juvenile facility the Woodside Rehab Center in Colchester.
Advertisement
Now the department is exploring building it in South Burlington or Vergennes.
“We are juggling some very difficult resource issues and we really need this secure facility so that we can take care of these kids who are all of our kids, who impact our communities and just desperately need help,” said Chris Winters, Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families.
The issue is personal for one mother calling for justice after her 14-year-old son was killed in a shooting in Addison County last year.
Kelly Gouveia said the last four months have been hard for her family, and that time made it even harder to heal knowing her son’s alleged killer has no secure place to go.
“It’s hurtful, like I said this is more hurtful than a lot of things, it feels like nobody cares… and he deserves justice he really does,” Gouveia said. “They said the reason why he’s not in is because there’s not a safe place to put him…and that hurts me.”
The incident dates back to October 2023, Vermont State Police say 14-year-old Huessin Mohamed was in a car with 14-year-old Madden Gouveia.
Court records indicate the teens were driving around Bristol, Vermont with a gun.
Authorities say Mohamed was in the back seat with the gun when Gouveia was shot, he later died at the hospital.
Mohamed’s age has played a major factor in this case including how and where he can be held.
An Addison County judge placed him under house arrest only allowed to leave his home for school, medical appointments, court appearances, and religious services.
Gouveia’s mother says it’s not enough.
“It’s not like I want him to go to jail forever… he’s a child,” Gouveia said. “He needs to take responsibility, whether it was an accident or not and until that…he should have been placed until we know.”
Hussein Mohamed is being charged as an adult for second-degree murder.
The Department of Children and Families has worked to improve the system of care to provide resources for young people who could be a danger to themselves or the community.
“It has been a long time coming and we’ve had to change plans. We’ve had to make a Plan B and a Plan C because of legal issues, because of court cases, because of community opposition and in some instances, said Winters. “We are seriously making progress. now, the temporary facility is ready to go.”
The department is now finalizing agreements with providers who will be providing treatment in a temporary location in Middlesex, Vermont before opening a bigger permanent location in the future.
