DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INCIDENT REVIEW SUMMARY INTRODUCTION On September 4, 2016 four youth were involved in a disturbance at the Nova Scotia Youth Facility in Waterville, NS. The RCMP were dispatched along with EMS to the facility. ISSUE Five staff were assaulted and required medical attention on September 4, 2016. FACTS  On September 4, 2016 at approximately 7:30 PM a youth requested to exit his cell. The gang control door system was activated, which unlocked all cells in the unit. When the youth exited the cell, two other youth also exited their cells.  A fourth youth was freed from their cell by the other youth.  The youth physically attacked a youth worker on duty.  Unit staff requested assistance of additional facility staff.  Responding staff were also assaulted by the youth.  Youth workers physically restrained the youth at 7:36 P.M.  RCMP officers responded to the scene at 7:42 P.M. and took the four restrained youth into custody.  Emergency Health Services staff responded to the scene. They treated one youth and one staff member at the scene and transported four other staff to hospital. FINDINGS  The on site manager was in compliance with Correctional Services policy when reporting the incident and requesting RCMP assistance and reporting Criminal Code infractions.  Staff were in compliance with Correctional Services policy and procedures with respect to use of gang control door system, which is a mass door unlock system in use since the facility opened in 1988.  A primary health assessment of the youth was conducted in compliance with Correctional Services policy and procedures.  Staff were in compliance with Correctional Services policy and procedure with respect to use of force, utilizing as much force as necessary to bring the disturbance under control.  Staff involved were unable to comply with Correctional Services policy involving post incident reports as they were transported for medical assistance.  Staff were in compliance with Correctional Services policy and procedure with respect to use of the offender disciplinary system to hold youth accountable for their actions following the disturbance.  Youth involved, co-ordinated their actions in order to create a disturbance. FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS  A hazard risk assessment of the duties within a youth facility is being conducted in compliance with the joint occupational health and safety committee.  The use of the gang releases for non-emergency purposes was suspended pending the outcome of the hazard assessment.  All four youth involved have been charged criminally for their involvement in this disturbance.  A critical incident stress debriefing was conducted on September 8, 2016, all staff involved in the incident attended.