2 new Dauphin judges appointed following announcement of jail closure

Two new provincial court judges have been appointed in Dauphin nearly a month after the provincial government announced the closure of the Dauphin Correctional Centre.

Dauphin Mayor Allen Dowhan is questioning the appointment of two judges in a city that will soon have no jail.

Dowhan says it won't improve efficiency because anyone sentenced will have to go to Brandon, The Pas or Winnipeg to serve their time.

• Read more: Dauphin 'devastated' over correctional centre closure

Manitoba Justice says there is currently one holding cell in the Dauphin courthouse, and renovations will add extra space.

The City of Dauphin held a town hall meeting in early February for residents to discuss other effects of the jail closure, which include families leaving the community in order to continue to work in the corrections field and limitations on support for inmates who will be placed in facilities further from home.