New rehabilitation initiatives in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Correctional Services Department (CSD) has introduced a series of new rehabilitation initiatives for offenders and ex-offenders with a view to facilitating their reintegration into the community.

These include the pilot Enhanced Reintegration Programme (ERP), recruitment of volunteers for tutoring classes and the implementation of the Continuing Care Project.

Enhanced Reintegration Programme (ERP)

Specifically designed for young male prisoners between the age of 21 and 25, ERP has been implemented at Lai Sun Correctional Institution since November 2003 to provide full-time vocational training.

Participants attend half-day vocational training in the catering service and half-day commercial skills training. They have to comply with the rules and regulations of young offender institutions such as the no smoking rule.

Prisoners need to have good institutional behaviour, and have attained at least junior secondary level education, to be eligible for the scheme. They should also have a sentence balance between six and 18 months to ensure they complete one to two vocational courses and obtain accreditation before release.

Unemployment is known as one of the main factors for re-offending. Many ex-offenders have difficulties finding employment due to lack of occupational skills. The enhanced programme would be beneficial to offenders’ reintegration into society upon discharge and help to reduce recidivism.

There are presently 10 prisoners in this programme.

Recruitment of Volunteer Tutors

CSD introduced the plan of engaging volunteer tutors and inmate peer tutors in March 2004 to provide support to educational pursuits by prisoners.

The volunteer recruitment exercise was conducted in late 2003. It met with enthusiastic response, attracting more than 200 professionals and university students.  43 of them were selected for a three-day workshop to equip them with necessary skills to work in a prison environment in March 2004.

Following the establishment of the CSD Rehabilitation Volunteer Group, a series of educational and hobby classes were planned. The 43 trained group members (three teachers and 40 university students) will run 22 educational and hobby classes in 13 correctional institutions.

The classes include English, Japanese, Putonghua (Mandarin), Computer Usage and Handicraft. To fully utilise the talents and skills of prisoners, suitable prisoners will assist the volunteers.

Recruitment of volunteers will be conducted all year round to ensure the availability of sufficient volunteer tutors for the classes.  To optimise the usage of this human resource in the community, more areas of rehabilitation work for prisoners will be opened to the volunteers in future.

Continuing Care Project

The Continuing Care Project has been implemented since February 2004. All supervisees who need continued counselling services after the expiry of the statutory supervision period will be referred for follow-up sessions at 7 designated non-government organisations. However, participation is on a voluntary basis.

Overseas studies have shown that correctional education, vocational training, and follow-up guidance such as job counselling and placement services, are effective in reducing recidivism. CSD hopes that recidivism rates will be further reduced with the implementation of its new initiatives.

ERP participants at the Food & Beverage Service training class