In the Closing Ceremony of the 19th APCCA in Shanghai in October 1999 the APCCA Coordinator, Professor David Biles, said that in his opinion the conference had been an outstanding success by any measure. He said that the standard of the written and oral presentations to the conference had been extremely high and the informal discussion between delegates during the conference had been stimulating and valuable.
Furthermore, all of the delegates had had extremely interesting visits to correctional institutions and had witnessed some brilliant concerts, both in the prisons and in the community. The hospitality, which included a number of memorable banquets, had been of an exceptionally high order, and all delegates had been overwhelmed by the beauty and the vitality of the city of Shanghai.
Finally, the APCCA delegates had taken the opportunity to strengthen informal friendships and this had led to a number of arrangements being made for visits or assistance between nations in the region. These personal friendships, Professor Biles suggested, were at the very heart of the APCCA.
Professor Biles then suggested that all of these achievements meant that the Peoples' Republic of China deserved warm thanks and congratulations for the work that they had done in hosting the 19th APCCA. He then offered his personal thanks to the Chairman, Mr. Du Zhongxing, and to the Conference Organiser, Ms Bai Ping.
He concluded his remarks by saying that, in his
view, APCCA was now stronger than ever and had also reached a stage of maturity
which was shown by the fact that delegates were now more prepared than in the
past to discuss the problems and shortcomings in their correctional systems,
rather than referring only to their achievements.
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The APCCA website www.apcca.org has provoked wide interest since it was created in November 1999. In each of the following two months, December 1999 and January 2000, the site has received well over 600 "hits". In total, until 1 February, 2000, the site has received 1450 successful requests for information.
The requests to the site have been identified as coming from many nations around the world including: Japan, Italy, United States, Thailand, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Spain, Singapore, Denmark, Argentina, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Fiji, Taiwan, Canada, United Kingdom and Mexico.
The website has been established, under contract with the APCCA, by the Principal Librarian of the Australian Institute of Criminology, Mr. John Myrtle. The site currently contains background information about APCCA and virtually the full details of the 18th APCCA that was held in Vancouver in 1998. Over the next few weeks Mr. Myrtle will add the report of the 19th APCCA that was held in Shanghai in 1999.
He will also include the national discussion papers of those nations who give their permission for this to be done. Mr. Myrtle has suggested that the most convenient way for national discussion papers to be sent to him is as attachments to emails sent to John.Myrtle@aic.gov.au
Alternatively, they could be sent on disc to him at the Australian Institute of Criminology, GPO Box 2944, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
When the establishment of the web site was discussed in Shanghai, a small working party was established to provide advice and assistance to John Myrtle. The working party comprises representatives of Hong Kong (SAR), Canada, Singapore, and Australia (NSW). Members of the working party are now invited to contact Mr. Myrtle at his email address shown above.
It is recognised by all involved with this
development that a significant number of APCCA participants do not yet have
access to the Internet and therefore the normal 'hard copy' of conference
reports and the APCCA newsletter will continue to be published in the coming
years.
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During the 19th APCCA Conference held in Shanghai, China in October 1999, the Advisory Committee came up with an idea of making an official plaque for APCCA.
The tentative design is a metallic APCCA logo embedded in a woodcut, surrounded possibly by miniatured national flags of all the participating nations. To this effect, Hong Kong has offered herself to take up the task and to prepare it for use in the coming 20th APCCA, Sydney. However, approval and provision of the design and specifications of the national flag (miniature) is required before Hong Kong can proceed further in the production of the craftwork.
In mid-February 2000, Hong Kong had sent out a
letter to each participating nation requesting for the consent and
specifications of miniatured national flags/emblems. If any APCCA member has not
received one, please contact Mr. Dicky Chan either by fax at (852) 2802 0184 or
by post at Correctional Services Department, Headquarters, 24/F, Wanchai Tower,
12 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong, for necessary arrangements. We earnestly
solicit your support and early reply, if still outstanding, to enable the first
official APCCA plaque to be presented in the coming 20th APCCA, Sydney.
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At the 18th APCCA in Vancouver in 1998 an informal offer was made by India to host the 21st APCCA in 2001, and a similar offer was made by the Philippines for the 22nd APCCA in 2002. Unfortunately neither India nor the Philippines were represented at the 19th APCCA in Shanghai in 1999 and therefore it was not possible for these offers to be confirmed. An attempt to contact India by fax from Shanghai was not successful.
When this subject was discussed in Shanghai, the delegate from Fiji informed the conference that it was possible that his government would agree to Fiji being the host in 2001. This suggestion was received with acclamation by the conference, and the Fiji representative agreed to inform the APCCA Coordinator when he received his government's approval.
Since then, the Fiji Commissioner of Prisons, Mr. Aisea Taoka, has informed the APCCA Coordinator, Professor David Biles, that the response he has received from his government to date is "encouraging" even though final approval has not yet been given. It is hoped that this matter will be settled well before the 20th APCCA in Sydney in November 2000.
Also on a positive note, the Philippines has
indicated that it would like to be the host "in the near future". It is
suggested that this could mean 2002. Singapore informed the Shanghai conference
that it would like to be the host on 2004, so the only clear gap in the
immediate future is 2003.
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Northern Territory Correctional Services provides an essential service to the community through its five core elements of containment and supervision, resource management, offender care, rehabilitation and reintegration and reparation.
"Ending Offending: Our Message" is a rehabilitation and reparation initiative implemented by the Alcohol and Other Drugs Unit and the Prisoner Education Unit. Over 15 male and female prisoners (predominantly indigenous prisoners) are involved in this 'unique' project. Participants have produced a collection of stories, paintings, songs, music and interactive web site addressing the issues of o fending and alcohol and drug use. Throughout this process they receive nationally accredited education and training in areas such as literacy, numeric, music and art industry skills, computing, woodwork and trades.
The interactive website is one element of the overall project. This medium documents the various elements of the project including artwork, music and personal stories of the participants, along with general information about NT Correctional Services (http://www.ourmessage.org)
Prisoner art and music exhibitions have also been held in community venues across the Territory. Young offenders will soon be contributing to the project via their involvement with the National Alcohol Campaign and the Next Wave Youth Arts Festival to be held in Melbourne. In support of our reparation commitments, any profits resulting from the sale of music and artwork will he channelled back into remote community projects via the Council of Churches.
Log in to
http://www.ourmessage.org if you have any suggestions or comments, please
contact us. We value your input. We can be contacted via the website email
button.
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The Pacific Region is currently working on a Pilot Project that will assist in improving its reintegration processes by increasing the quality and timeliness of our case preparation for decision makers. This project is called the Bridging Project and will run for one year beginning on 99/12/06 and will end on 2000/12/06. If successful, it is expected that increased numbers will be released to the community vi the National Parole Board as opposed to the mandatory Statutory Release Date which is at two-thirds of the offender's sentence. The main goal of this project is to ensure not only the safe reintegration of offenders at the most appropriate time of their sentence but also to sustain their release to community.
The design of this project includes 3 Bridging teams, which consist of 4 Parole Officers, one administrative support and two Reintegration Managers for each team. These teams are dedicated to:
The Bridging Project assigns a level of
specialization to the case preparation function and attempts to provide more
focused attention to the development of creative and innovative release plans
which incorporate the services, resources and programs of the entire region. An
evaluation strategy for the project is in place and will have results on a
monthly basis.
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Australia is a federation made up of six states and two self-governing territories, with each having responsibility for the delivery of corrective services within their boundaries.
The national population stands at 19 million and on any one day there are between 20,000 and 21,000 men and women in prison.
The state of Queensland, with 3 million people, is the third most populous of the eight jurisdictions, yet it has the second highest prison population. On January 1, 2000 there were 4618 men and women in custody.
Since June 1993 the Queensland prison population has more than doubled - up from 2068 at that time - and for a period the state had the fastest growing imprisonment rate in Australia. However, in the 12 months to September 1999 the average daily numbers of prisoners held in Queensland fell by 2% while the corresponding national figure rose by 1%. (In this 12 month period the average daily number of prisoners in Western Australia increased by 23%.)
In mid-1999 the Queensland imprisonment rate was 194 per 100,000. The latest available statistics now put this figure at 191.3 per 100,000.
Research, both inside and outside correctional agencies, has been carried out in recent years to try to explain the rapid increase in prisoner numbers. This identified a number of possible causes, such as:
The Queensland Government embarked on an unprecedented correctional centre infrastructure expansion program to cope with the rise in prisoner numbers.
In May 1999 the largest prison project in the state's history - the $A120million Wolston and Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre Complex in Brisbane - was officially opened, providing accommodation for 600 men and 270 women. Before this facility opened there were 3800 cells throughout the state, with only 194 of these for women.
In just one year the total budget for corrections in Queensland increased by 45% to just short of $A0.5 billion in 1997/98. Of this total, $A178 million was dedicated to capital works to provide an additional 1093 cells.
Since the commissioning of Wolston Correctional Centre and the replacement of Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre, the Department of Corrective Services has opened a $A7 million extension to Rockhampton Correctional Centre in central Queensland to provide 96 more bed spaces.
The department has also begun work on the $A89.5 million high security Capricornia Correctional Centre north of Rockhampton which will accommodate 400 men. This is expected to be completed by June 2001 and will replace an existing facility.
The Queensland Government has also announced the expansion of Woodford Correctional Centre, about 150km north-west of Brisbane, by 400 cells to bring it to 1000 cell capacity. This will make it the largest in the state and one of the largest in Australia.
The Woodford expansion will account for $A69 million over two years. Preliminary work has also begun on a 500-cell facility for men at Maryborough, about 250km north of Brisbane. This project represents an investment of $A97 million over three years.
Since the antiquated and inadequate 19th
century Boggo Road jail in Brisbane was decommissioned in 1991 and replaced by a
modern facility, more than $A500 million has been spent on new prison
infrastructure in Queensland. [Costs are expressed in Australian dollars. $A1 =
$US0.66.]
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Voluntary Contribution Acknowledgement
Vietnam is gratefully acknowledged for her
|
Developing a Shared Vision and Revising the
Mission
Year 1999 was an exciting year for the Singapore Prison Service. Although
rehabilitation of offenders was one of the two main functions of the Service,
the other being secure custody of offenders, not very much was done to help the
inmates correct their offending behaviour. The Service hence required a new
vision to refocus its energy on the helping mission while not neglecting the
important role of keeping offenders in secure custody. For this reason, the
Service set out to craft a new vision and to revisit our mission statement in
the beginning of the year. It was also time to set new challenges for the
future.
The new vision and revised mission of the Service were not "top-down" initiatives but were crafted in consultation with more than 800 of our staff from all levels, as well as our stakeholders. The consultation process started in earnest when the Service held its last Prisons Workplan Seminar of the century in May 1999. After many iterations and refinements, the statements were momentously unveiled on 31 Dec 99, the last day of the millennium. It was a slow and painful consensus forging process but the Service is better off for having undergone this process as we are reasonably certain that we have the commitment of the majority of our staff on the direction we are heading. The Singapore Prison Service is thus proud to announce that our new mission and vision reflect the views and aspirations of the officers in the service and is a clear guide to our staff as to where their focus should be in the carrying out of their daily duties.
MISSION STATEMENT |
There are three key components to the revised Mission Statement of the Singapore Prison Service:
While our obligation ends at the release of the offender from Prisons, the
Service will strive to also prepare offenders to take advantage of the community
programmes and resources which provide the aftercare support that is beyond the
Service's mandate.
VISION STATEMENT |
There are also three key components to the new Vision Statement of the Singapore Prison Service:
Development of Strategies
The Service is currently formulating our strategy to support the achievement of
our mission and vision. We have identified 4 focal areas to work on for the next
3 years. They are:
Our Levers
In this age of having to do more with less, the Service has identified technology, knowledge management and community resources as our levers. We will look towards technology, when appropriate to reduce the need for manpower, to share information and to enhance our security and operational capability. Our officers will be learning officers, aspiring to acquire new knowledge from model correctional agencies. In addition, our officers will share our knowledge of managing and rehabilitating offenders with each other and with overseas correctional agencies. The Service also recognizes that we cannot do it all. Most of our inmates will return to the community one day. The Service hopes to mobilize the community support for offenders who want to change for the better through involving members of the public, community organizations and the families of inmates in in-care and aftercare.
With our new mission and vision, the Singapore
Prison Service is looking towards the future with anticipation. Our mission
statement has set forth clearly our core duties and objectives. Our vision will
be a destination we strive and stretch for. Our focal areas and levers will
guide the Service in formulating concrete strategies to get us there.
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Dates For 20th APCCA Fixed |
The New Zealand Department of Corrections is developing and about to trial a new integrated system of managing offenders.
Integrated Offender Management (IOM) is about integrating rehabilitation with the requirements of managing a prison or community-based sentence. The system involves identifying offenders most at risk of reoffending, the factors that contribute to their offending, and then ensuring they get the right programmes and services to address those factors.
The Department has designed New Zealand-specific tools to measure risk of reoffending and assess offending related (criminogenic) needs. Reoffending risk and criminogenic needs will be identified as part of presentencing interviews. This information will be used to provide judges with accurate advice to assist sentencing, and give Corrections information to manage offenders' sentences. The needs assessment tool also incorporates assessment of Maori culture-related needs that might be a factor in offending.
New intensive programmes have been developed based on principles proven to change offenders' thinking and behaviour. Three new intensive programmes that deal with violence, driving offending and substance abuse will be trialed early in 2000. Straight Thinking, an intensive cognitive skills programme, is now well established. And a new rehabilitative programme that provides basic literacy, numeracy, employment and social skills is also being tested.
IOM will also identify ways to help reintegrate
offenders back into the community. The reintegration needs that will be
addressed include accommodation, employment, budgeting skills, parenting skills,
improving family relationships etc.
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A programme aimed at helping offenders and their families to break the cycle of offending is being piloted in Christchurch, New Zealand.
"A family member going to prison often comes on top of a whole series of other family problems like substance abuse, family violence, poor budgeting, illiteracy and a history of family offending," said Tony Johns, General Manager Policy Development for the Department of Corrections.
"Families of inmates face common problems including the stigma of having a family member in prison, financial difficulties and ongoing stress. This programme focuses on the needs of the offender and family or whanau (extended family in Maori communities) during the vital period of returning to the community."
Tony said the pilot programme will target both the offender moving back into the family and the family receiving the offender back. "There will be intensive support both before and after the offender is released."
A community group called PILLARS, who already have experience in supporting the families of those in prison, is running the pilot programme.
To be considered for the pilot an offender must be regarded as a serious repeat offender, be willing to assume parenting responsibilities within a family/whanau and have at least one child under 12 years of age.
This pilot programme comes as a part of the budget package set aside for the Government's Strengthening Families strategy. Two pilot programmes are being developed in both Christchurch and Auckland each for 60 offenders at a total cost of $2.45m over the next two and a half years.
It is intended that the Auckland based pilot
programme will be running by mid 2000.
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The New Zealand Department of Corrections introduced the order of Home Detention in October 1999. Over 80 eligible offenders have since been allowed to serve their sentences outside prison on home detention. The Department aims to have 300 offenders on home detention by July 2000.
The aim of home detention is to reduce re-offending and reduce the rate of growth in the prison population.
"Home detention means offenders can remain in a positive environment while undertaking rehabilitation programmes and lowering the risk of institutionalisation. Offenders who have jobs are also able to keep working and maintain their family responsibilities," says Sue Montgomery, Home Detention Project Manager.
The eligibility criteria for home detention are very strict. Only detainees who have been assessed as presenting minimal risk to the community and have shown a desire to address the causes of their offending can be released on to home detention. Offenders serving an indeterminate sentence - for example, life imprisonment and preventive detention - or who have been convicted of a serious violent offence are not eligible for home detention.
The sentencing judge can grant leave to apply for home detention to an inmate who has been sentenced to two years or less in prison. Once in prison the inmate is assessed for suitability. The application for Home Detention is then considered by a District Prisons Board.
District Prisons Boards and the Parole Board can also decide if inmates serving sentences longer than two years - who have not committed serious violent offences - can be released onto home detention three months before their parole eligibility date.
While on home detention, offenders wear an
electronic, waterproof and tamper-proof anklet that will trigger an alarm if
offenders leave the confines of their property without permission. Should this
occur, the monitoring centre will dispatch security officers to investigate.
Police are only called if an offender has clearly absconded. Offenders can also
be monitored at work.
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More than 600 offenders in New Zealand have attended the Straight Thinking cognitive skills programme. The New Zealand Department of Corrections implemented this programme in March last year to address offenders' lack of reasoning ability.
The programme's Implementation Manager, Linda Barrie, says 40 coaches have been appointed and trained to deliver the programme. They have also provided awareness training about the Straight Thinking programme to more than 700 staff at prisons and at Community Probation sites over the eight-month period.
"We're aiming to have appointed and trained 80 coaches by July," she says. "The team of four national training managers supports the Straight Thinking coaches."
"By the middle of this year, 1600 offenders will be registered for Straight Thinking. It will be available at every prison and Community Probation area, and to offenders on home detention."
Straight Thinking comprises 35 two-hour sessions during which offenders are taught to stop and think before acting, and to consider the consequences of their behaviour.
The programme is suitable for male and female offenders of all ages from all ethnic groups. Offenders must have a medium-to-high risk of reoffending and a medium-to-high need for a cognitive behavioural programme.
It is not considered suitable for offenders
with unmanaged addictions and/or mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities, or
for illiterate offenders. Low literacy is not an issue, because the programme is
largely based on group discussion and role-plays.
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Electronic monitoring of inmates for pre-release and home detention programme is being judged a tremendous success with 280 inmates in communities throughout NSW taking part in the programme.
The Electronic Monitoring Alert System, (EMAS) is a highly sensitive, tamper-proof device which is strapped to the ankle and monitors an inmate's movements 24 hours a day. A radio transmitting receiving device is positioned in the home and workplace while the ankle bracelet acts as a transmitter.
The system monitors the inmate's compliance patterns, registering within seconds whether offenders break curfews, meet with other inmates or are regularly early or late for work.
Parramatta Correctional Centre Governor, Steve D'Silva says correctional officers will quickly know if an inmate is not complying with the programme's conditions.
"Officers can now drive past an office building or residential premises with a hand-held device which will register whether the inmate is there or not. It allows officers to quickly and efficiently know if the inmate is complying with their conditions without the inmate even knowing they have been checked," said Governor D'Silva.
"From where we were with the management and supervision of work release inmates from March 1998 to today - is a quantum leap. The technology is constantly evolving and improving, providing enormous potential for expansion of the system. We are looking at placing receivers at major bus terminals and key railway stations which register as the inmate enters the station on their authorised route to work. As technology improves, a GPS tracking system could be incorporated," he said.
Once an inmate is screened and deemed suitable for a work release programme, only then is the application of electronic monitoring suitable. It is not a substitute for a security classification and is an addition to regular telephone and physical checks.
"This is the last form of monitoring before release. We are basically saying to inmates that these are your conditions of release and we are going to monitor your compliance. We will hardly see you but we know where you are supposed to he - it's another layer of security," he said. "The onus is then on the offender to rehabilitate and establish their credibility and increase the chance of parole."
"Feedback from offenders is extremely positive as this form of monitoring is less intrusive on inmates and their families, which actually improves compliance rates. Electronic monitoring also results in significant cost savings to the public and establishes community faith that we as a department know where these people are at all times," he said.
Although electronic monitoring is widely used throughout the world, NSW is the first to use the system on work release programme. As a result, there has been significant interest from interstate correctional administrations, with the ACT currently trialing the electronic monitoring device.
"Junee Correctional Centre will implement
electronic monitoring by the end of the year and we are also hoping to negotiate
a contract whereby NSW will conduct the full-time monitoring of ACT inmates on a
cost recovery basis bv 2000."
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In Malaysia, a number of rehabilitative programmes have been introduced recently, the foremost of which is the Therapeutic Community Programme. TC is based on the innovative concept of self-help/mutual help among inmates. The primary goal of TC is to foster personal growth and this is accomplished by changing an individual's negative behaviour of lifestyle through a community of concerned people working together to help themselves and each other.
The treatment philosophy proceeds from the premise that man is not a fragile being but he can and should be confronted with his condition and challenged to grow into maturity and responsibility. This is achieved via a caring but demanding family group, a peer group TC. Furthermore, TC impresses upon the offender that 'only you can do it, but you cannot do it alone' except in a group context.
In the Malaysian correctional context, TC
programme was first introduced at the Kajang Drug Prison in the year 1992. To
date, the results have been promising. For that reason, it has expanded to 7
other penal institutions.
| Institution | No. of TC Residents |
|---|---|
| Kajang Drug Prison | 38 |
| Henry Gurney School, Telok Mas | 71 |
| Henry Gurney School, Kota Kinabalu | 65 |
| Kajang Women's Prison | 11 |
| Jelebu Drug Rehabilitation Prison | 116 |
| Marang Prison | 48 |
| Sibu Prison | 20 |
| Seremban Prison | 38 |
| Total | 407 |
On 10, 11 and 12 January 2000, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Australia, was pleased to host a delegation from the People's Republic of China. The aim of the visit was to explore the methods of design and technology incorporated within Australian Courts.
Justice Zheng Gang (Vice President, Beijing High People's Court) led the delegation of six Justices. They were particularly interested in the operation of the various Courts throughout Australia, as Beijing is considering the construction of a Court that symbolises the law throughout the whole of China.
Over the three day tour, the delegates visited the ACT Magistrates Court, Supreme Court and the High Court of Australia. Delegates also attended at the Australian Federal Police Watch House, ACT Corrective Services Remand Centre, Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Commonwealth Attorney General's Department.
At a dinner meeting, delegates met with officials from the Australian Agency for International Development, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the President of the Senate, Australian Parliament House.
The ACT is interested in supporting and
understanding developments occurring within corrective services throughout the
Asia Pacific region and is honored to be chosen as a point of interest by the
Justices of the People's Republic of China.
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UNAFEI is planning to publish a new book
entitled "Institutional Treatment Profiles of Asia" this year, which
describes the corrections systems of some Asian countries. The countries in
these profiles are: China (Hong Kong SAR), Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines,
Sri Lanka and Thailand. The authors of these profiles have extensive experience
and knowledge of the workings of the corrections system in their respective
countries. This book is expected to become an informative reference source not
only for administrators and practitioners in the field of corrections, but also
for academic researchers.
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Seeking continuous improvement through benchmarking and sharing of experience with overseas counterparts is always a key quality enhancement strategy of the Correctional Services Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. To strengthen the cooperation with the Singapore Prisons Department with the aim of achieving mutual development and improvement, a delegation headed by the Commissioner Mr. Benny NG visited the Singapore Prisons Department in January 2000. The visit was successful and fruitful. Apart from benefiting from various learning opportunities, most important of all, the two Departments have established a strategic relationship in the following five fields: -
The Correctional Services Industries (CSI), a section of the Correctional Services Department, successfully obtained ISO 9002 certification in the Sign Making business, after going through certification auditing conducted by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA).
Mr. Howie Ng, Chief Executive of HKQAA, presented the ISO 9002 certificate to Mr. Ng Ching-kwok, Commissioner of Correctional Services on February 10. This is the first time a section of the Department obtains such privileged certification.
The Commissioner was satisfied and happy with the certification. He remarked that this had indicated the Department's determination to progress with time. "The certification would not only benefit the Sign Making business, the experience gained in obtaining this certification would also benefit the Department in other areas," the Commissioner said.
The Commissioner further expressed that he
would consider having more sections of the Department seeking ISO certification
- for example, the Complaints Investigation Unit. He firmly believed that with
the professionalism of the staff, the Department would deliver quality services
recognised internationally for excellence.
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Since the formation of the new Rehabilitation Division of Hong Kong Correctional Services Department in January 1998, its 370 staff have striven to strengthen existing rehabilitation programmes and develop rehabilitation services in eight strategic directions.
New developments of rehabilitation services in
eight strategic directions are summarized below:
(A) Providing new specialised services
New programmes have been developed to meet the
special rehabilitation needs of offenders. The Sex Offenders Evaluation
Treatment Unit was set up in September 1998 to provide comprehensive evaluation
and treatment services for sex offenders. A Rehabilitation Unit was introduced
on a trial basis in October 1999 for the management and transitional adjustment
of offenders recovering from mental problems. A draft Rehabilitation Centre Bill
has been worked out for implementation of a proposed programme to fill the
service gap between Detention Centre and Training Centre programmes for young
offenders.
(B) Gaining accreditation for vocational skills
Not only were old trades replaced, enhancement
of 17 vocational training courses for young offenders are being prepared to
enable them to gain external accreditation such as Pitman or City and Guilds
qualifications. These qualifications will help them in job seeking and bridging
with technical institute courses, the details of which are being discussed with
the Vocational Training Council (VTC). In parallel development, various types of
Intermediate Trade 'rests administered by the VTC or Construction Industry
Training Authority (CITA) have been introduced to prisoners and arrangements are
being made to conduct certificate construction labour courses at adult
institutions by CITA commenced in January 2000.
(C) Revamping education & structural review of teaching staff
The first review report recommended four directions of modernizing correctional education, i.e. shift of focus from primary to secondary education; move towards mainstream education; adaptation with modification of Education Department's curriculum guides for maladjusted children, and setting up an inspectorate system. Increase in graduate posts and senior rank posts, which was found necessary by the report in supporting these developments, is being considered in detail by a working group.
A number of new initiatives have also been undertaken, e.g., teachers exchange programme with an aided school, Education Department's inspectorate visits to classes at correctional institutions, etc. Consultancy input will also be injected through the running of a tailor-made training course for teachers and the design of a new self and social development course for young offenders.
The curriculum is being revised in accordance
with Education Department's syllabus. It is aimed that in 2001, a good portion
of our inmates will attain Form 3 standard upon discharge to enable them to
apply for continuous training in related trades at the technical institutes.
(D) Promoting 'beat drug' education
To combat the increasing prevalence of
substance abuse among youngsters, beat drug education has been reinforced in
Training Centres, Drug Addiction Treatment Centres as well as Halfway Houses.
The current initiatives are to extend the beat drug education to adult
institutions and impose relapse prevention strategies on inmates with previous
addiction history.
(E) Enlisting family support
To enlist family support in the rehabilitation
process of young offenders, much effort has been made to enhance parent-inmate
communication and relations through the introduction of parent-inmate
programmes, educational booklets and quarterly newsletters for young offenders
and families.
(F) Promoting cultural activities among adult offenders.
Cultural activities such as pop bands, essay
competitions, remedial education and hobby classes are being promoted among the
adult offenders. The first issue of a newsletter for adult offenders was
published in January 2000. It aims to enhance communication between the
management, professional staff and the inmates, thereby adding an outlet of
sentiments for the latter and at the same time enhancing their writing skills.
(G) Widening network with professional bodies/Non-Government Organisations
Professional skills and initiatives have been
brought into various rehabilitation services through building up work
relationships with professional bodies e.g. Education Department, Vocational
Training Council, Hong Kong Christian Service and Caritas Lok Heep Club (on
'beat drug') and Hong Kong YWCA Employee Service Scheme (on placement
facilitator training). Regular workshops are held with NGOs to explore
networking of rehabilitation services. Joint projects with NGOs/religious bodies
are also run.
(H) Reaching out for community support
An "Opportunities for the Rehabilitated Offenders" publicity campaign was launched for the first time in end 1999 and early 2000. An advisory committee with mostly unofficial members has been formed to develop long-term strategies on gaining community support in helping discharged offenders reintegrate into the community.
Efforts made in the last 24 months have laid a
solid foundation for the way forward. In the coming year, the Rehabilitation
Division aims to:
(a) for young offenders -
(b) for adult offenders -
(c) extend beat drug education from young to
adult offenders.
(d) forge close links with professional bodies and NGOs for more
joint-venture projects; and
(e) formulate long term strategies to gain community support for
rehabilitation of offenders.
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Prison Administration Bureau
and
Department of Judicial Assistance and Foreign Affairs, Ministry of justice, PRC
and
Correctional Services Department, Hong Kong SAR, PRC
Contact: Mathias Chan
Correctional Services Department,
Hong Kong SAR, PRC
Address: 27th Floor, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Telephone : (852) 2582 5205
Fax : (852) 2186 8513
E-mail:
cores@correctionalservices.gov.hk
Contributions:
David Biles
Cari Mavoh of Correctional Services Canada
Tamara Johnson of NSW Corrective Services, Australia
ACT Corrective Services, Australia
Northern Territory Correctional Services, Australia
Queensland Corrective Services, Australia
Correctional Services Department, HK SAR, China
Correction Bureau, Japan
Prisons Department, Malaysia
Department of Corrections, New Zealand
Prisons Department, Singapore
UNAFEI
Production:
Mathias Chan
Edith Law