|
The Correctional Services Department (CSD) runs a comprehensive range
of services for adult and young offenders, drug addicts and offenders
with psychiatric problems. The services fall broadly under two programme
areas: prison management and reintegration of offenders into society.
In 2003, the CSD managed 24 correctional institutions,
three halfway houses and two custodial wards in public hospitals. It also
runs an extensive community-based after-care service. In all, 6
814 staff were looking after a daily average of 12 381 inmates,
148 detainees and 2 920 persons under supervision after discharge
from custody.
Offenders sentenced to imprisonment are assigned to
institutions according to their gender, age and security rating. The last
factor takes into account, among other things, the risk they pose to the
community and whether they are first-time offenders. Basically, separate
institutions are provided for males and females, and for adults and young
offenders. Male and female young offenders aged between 14 and 20 may
be admitted to a training centre or a rehabilitation centre. A detention
centre programme is available for male offenders aged between 14 and 24.
Drug addicts found guilty of an offence punishable by imprisonment may
be sentenced to a drug addiction treatment centre. Separate sections are
available for young addicts aged between 14 and 20. Offenders requiring
psychiatric treatment will be accommodated in the Siu Lam Psychiatric
Centre.
Inmates are properly cared for in their daily living.
The diet for inmates follows approved scales of nutritional values and
has regard to health and religious requirements. All adult inmates, unless
certified physically unfit by a medical officer, are required by law to
work six days a week. They are assigned to different work posts according
to factors such as their fitness and security ratings, personal background
and balance of sentence. They receive earnings for the work done and may
use their earnings to buy approved personal items twice a month. Television,
newspapers and library books are available to inmates. They may send out
and receive an unrestricted number of letters, receive regular visits
and participate in the religious services available. Compulsory education
and vocational programmes are provided for inmates aged under 21 whereas
voluntary programmes are provided for adults. Voluntary organisations
such as the Prisoners' Friends Association may visit inmates who are not
visited by their families.
Prisoners released under the Pre-release Employment
Scheme, offenders released under supervision from training centres, detention
centre, rehabilitation centres and drug addiction treatment centres, and
those having special needs may be accommodated in halfway houses for varying
lengths of time. Thereafter, they are permitted to live at home or in
other places while they continue to receive after-care supervision.
The CSD manages 12 prisons for adult males, consisting of three maximum,
five medium and four minimum security institutions. Female prisoners are
accommodated in three prisons. For young offenders, the department operates
three prisons (one maximum and two minimum security), two male training
centres, two male rehabilitation centres and two female rehabilitation
centres. A training centre section for young females is provided in the
Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution, a multi-function institution for
females. There is also one detention centre for young males. Two drug
addiction treatment centres are also provided, one each for male and female
drug addicts. The Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre is a maximum security prison
which separately houses male and female prisoners of all categories (sentenced
or on remand) and detainees who require psychiatric observation, treatment
or assessment. Of all these institutions, five cater for remanded males
and females of different age groups. Facilities in a penal institution
normally include dormitories, kitchens, dining rooms, laundries, workshops,
exercising and recreational areas, library and hospital. Victoria Prison,
the oldest prison and in use since 1841, will be reprovisioned by the
end of 2005.
Three halfway houses operated by the CSD provide group
counselling sessions and other activities for inmates to assist their
reintegration into society.
Vietnamese illegal immigrants who arrive in Hong Kong
are now detained in Victoria Prison after an initial period of quarantine.
To cope with the perennial overcrowding problem in
correctional institutions, the department has drawn up a long-term prison
development plan. In order to handle the increasing number of female adult
offenders, Ma Hang Prison was converted from a male prison to a female
institution in October 2003.
In 2003, the penal population remained high and averaged 10 per cent
over the certified accommodation, with prisons for adults, particularly
females, being the major pressure points. The female penal population
continued to rise in 2003, and the female adults sentenced to imprisonment
and remanded in custody increased by 21 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively,
over 2002. A record high of 3 007 was registered in October, representing
an occupancy rate of 197 per cent. Despite overcrowding which stretched
resources, the CSD continued to implement its correctional programmes
effectively.
During the year, 22 600 adult offenders
(11 992 males and 10 608 females) were sentenced to imprisonment,
and 8 878 adult remands (6 577 males and 2 301
females) were received for custody. The number of young offenders sentenced
to imprisonment totalled 2 046 (473 males and 1 573 females), and 824
young remands (665 males and 159 females) were received for custody. In
addition, 730 young offenders (671 males and 59 females) were sentenced
to detention in training centres, rehabilitation centres or the detention
centre, and 1 283 offenders (1 083 males and
200 females) to drug addiction treatment centres.
Certain categories of inmates have to undergo different
periods of statutory supervision. They are inmates discharged from training
centres, detention centre, rehabilitation centres and drug addiction treatment
centres, discharged young prisoners subject to supervision under the Criminal
Procedure Ordinance, prisoners discharged under the Release under Supervision
Scheme, Pre-release Employment Scheme and Post-release Supervision Scheme,
as well as prisoners discharged under a conditional release order or a
post-release supervision order. During the year, 2 538 offenders were
discharged under supervision. They, together with those discharged in
previous years and who had yet to complete their supervision period, added
up to a total of 2 907 persons (2 601 males and 306 females) under the
CSD's supervision at the end of 2003. During the year, 668 persons (575
males and 93 females) were recalled for breach of supervision conditions.
Young persons aged between 14 and 20, who are convicted of an offence
punishable by imprisonment, may be remanded in custody for a period not
exceeding three weeks for assessment of their suitability for admission
to a training centre, rehabilitation centre, detention centre or drug
addiction treatment centre. Young male adults aged between 21 and 24 may
be similarly remanded for admission to the detention centre.
The CSD runs the Pre-sentence Assessment Panel that
makes recommendations to the courts on the suitability of offenders for
detention in a detention centre, training centre, rehabilitation centre
or drug addiction treatment centre. The panel investigates all cases referred
by the courts, and prepares suitability reports for them. In 2003, 5
455 offenders were remanded for suitability reports, and the panel
found 1 459 males and 293 females suitable for admission
to a rehabilitation centre, a training centre or detention centre, and
1 459 males and 261 females suitable for a drug addiction
treatment centre.
The Young Offender Assessment Panel, comprising representatives from
the CSD and the Social Welfare Department, makes recommendations to magistrates
and judges on the most appropriate rehabilitation programmes for young
male offenders aged between 14 and 24 and females aged 14 to 20. In 2003,
the panel received a total of 390 referrals from judges and magistrates
and 84 per cent of its recommendations were accepted.
Training centres provide correctional training for young offenders for
periods ranging from a minimum of six months to a maximum of three years.
These offenders attend half-day educational classes and receive half-day
vocational training. They also receive character development training
in the form of scouting or guiding, Hong Kong Award for Young People activities
and Outward Bound training. On Sundays and public holidays, visits are
made to youth centres, factories, sports centres and country parks. Activities
to provide social service for the elderly, and the mentally and physically
handicapped are arranged for inmates nearing discharge to better prepare
them for reintegration into society. The parent-inmate centre at the Tai
Tam Gap Correctional Institution helps inmates to gain family support
and to develop a better family relationship. Upon release, inmates must
have suitable employment, education or vocational training and are subject
to a statutory period of supervision of three years.
The detention centre programme is carried out at the
Sha Tsui Detention Centre for young male offenders aged between 14 and
20, and young male adults aged between 21 and 24. It emphasises strict
discipline, strenuous training, hard work and a vigorous routine. After
release, detainees are subject to a statutory supervision period of one
year.
In operation since July 2002, the rehabilitation centres
provide an additional sentencing option for the courts to deal with young
offenders aged between 14 and 20, and in need of a short-term residential
rehabilitation programme. The programme consists of two phases with a
total period of detention ranging from three to nine months. The first
phase of the programme provides two to five months' training in a correctional
institution. It focuses on discipline training with the aim of helping
the young offenders learn to exercise better self-control and develop
a regular living pattern through half-day basic work skills training and
half-day educational/ counselling programmes. During the second phase
of the programme, young offenders are accommodated in an institution with
a halfway house setting for a period of one to four months. They may go
out for work, attend vocational training and educational courses, and
participate in community service programmes. Discharged young offenders
are subject to a statutory period of supervision of one year.
An Enhanced Reintegration Programme, providing full-time
voluntary vocational training for male prisoners aged between 21 and 24,
was introduced in September. It aims at broadening the knowledge on work
skills of those prisoners with at least junior secondary education. By
year-end, 10 inmates were enrolled in this programme.
Inmates aged under 21 are required to attend educational classes conducted
by qualified teachers. Textbooks approved by the Education and Manpower
Bureau and supplementary materials compiled by the CSD are used. To match
the development of inmates at different levels and ages, a wide spectrum
of curricula is offered. Guidance is provided to adult inmates who participate
in educational studies on a voluntary basis. Self-study packages and distance
learning courses, including degree courses offered by local and overseas
academic institutes, are also available.
All inmates are encouraged to take part in both local
and overseas public examinations organised by the Hong Kong Examinations
and Assessment Authority as well as other local and overseas authorities.
Young inmates may attend formal classes up to certificate level and sit
for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination as school candidates.
Adult inmates may sit for the examination as private candidates. Inmates
may obtain accreditation by way of public examinations held by the Pitman
Qualifications or the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examination
Board.
A Prisoners' Education Trust Fund, set up with charitable
donations in 1995, provides financial assistance to prisoners in educational
pursuits, in the form of grants to cover course or examination fees, and
expenses on reference books.
To help young offenders to reintegrate smoothly into society as law abiding
citizens, the department provides vocational training programmes for inmates
aged under 21 to enable them to learn job skills, obtain accreditation
and develop work habits.
The CSD offers various training courses that match
with the inmates' learning ability and needs. All vocational training
courses meet the demands of the business and industrial sectors in Hong
Kong, so that inmates can have a better opportunity for employment upon
discharge. Some courses help inmates to obtain qualifications of the City
and Guilds International or the Pitman Qualifications. Other training
courses are also provided to prepare inmates for trade tests or examinations
conducted by the Vocational Training Council, the Construction Industry
Training Authority and the Clothing Industry Training Authority.
The Correctional Services Industries (CSI) provide work to adult prisoners
as required by law. Employment keeps all convicted inmates, except those
who are physically unfit for work, purposefully and gainfully occupied,
thus reducing the risk of unrest due to boredom. Through work, prisoners
develop good working habits and a sense of responsibility, build up self-confidence
and learn the spirit of teamwork. This will also help them acquire the
basic skills for different trades and improve their reintegration after
release.
In 2003, a daily average of about 7 240
prisoners engaged in industrial work. Workshops in penal institutions
provide a wide range of goods and services mainly for government departments
and public organisations. Examples are government furniture, staff uniforms
and leather accoutrement, hospital linen, litter containers, mailboxes
and traffic signs. They also make pre-cast concrete products such as paving
blocks and slabs and kerbing blocks for highways and infrastructure projects.
Prisoners provide laundry services for the Hospital Authority, the Department
of Health and the ambulance depots. They also bind books for public libraries,
undertake printing work and make file jackets and envelopes for some government
departments.
Production and services provided by the CSI to government
departments and public organisations amounted to the equivalent of $442
million in commercial value in 2003.
Prisoners' Welfare Officers in the CSD look after the welfare of detainees
and prisoners, and help them to deal with personal problems and difficulties
arising from detention or imprisonment. Apart from conducting individual
and group counselling sessions, Prisoners' Welfare Officers assist in
the establishment and running of hobby groups. They also organise activities
such as Pre-release Re-integration Orientation courses and meetings with
family members of prisoners with the aim of helping inmates to reintegrate
smoothly into society upon release and supplying them with information
on community resources.
The CSD runs a compulsory treatment programme for convicted drug addicts
which provides the courts with an alternative to imprisonment. Male inmates
are accommodated at the Hei Ling Treatment Centre and the Lai Sun Correctional
Institution, and females at the Chi Ma Wan Drug Addiction Treatment Centre.
Adult and young inmates are accommodated separately. An inmate undergoes
in-centre treatment from two to 12 months, followed by one year's statutory
after-care supervision. The programme is based on therapeutic treatment,
discipline, work programmes, outdoor physical activities and comprehensive
after-care service.
All institutions have their own hospitals providing basic medical treatment,
health and dental care to inmates. Those requiring specialist treatment
are either referred to visiting consultants or to specialist clinics in
public hospitals. HIV and AIDS have not caused any problem in the institutions.
However, the department has established guidelines for its staff on handling
such cases, as well as a programme of education and prevention.
Ante-natal and post-natal care is provided in institutions
for female inmates, but babies are normally delivered in public hospitals.
The Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre treats prisoners with mental health problems,
and offers psychiatric consultations and assessments for inmates on referral
from other institutions and the courts.
To guard against any SARS infection within the penal
institutions, the department closely monitored the development of the
outbreak in Hong Kong. Screening procedures were strictly followed and
all newly admitted inmates had their body temperature checked as well
as being placed under observation for a certain period. Medical consultations
were arranged for any inmates showing suspected symptoms of SARS. The
concerted efforts of front-line staff and management of the institutions
proved effective as no SARS infection was recorded in any of the institutions.
Psychological services are provided to inmates to enhance their psychological
well-being and to correct their offending behaviour. Clinical psychologists
and trained officers provide special treatment programmes for inmates
such as sex offenders, violent offenders, inmates with addiction problems
and young offenders. They also provide assessment reports to the courts,
review boards and institutional management to assist decision-making on
the management and rehabilitation of offenders.
After-care supervision is provided to persons discharged from training,
rehabilitation, detention and drug addiction treatment centres, young
prisoners and prisoners discharged under the Release Under Supervision,
Pre-release Employment and Post-release Supervision Schemes, as well as
prisoners discharged under a conditional release order or post-release
supervision order. The aim of after-care services is to facilitate supervisees'
rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Rapport among the supervisees,
their families and the after-care staff is cultivated to help the supervisees
to tackle obstacles in their path to rehabilitation. Throughout the statutory
supervision period, regular contacts are maintained between the after-care
staff and their respective supervisees to ensure that the supervisees
settle well into the community and comply with the conditions of the supervision
orders. Any breach of the supervision conditions may result in the supervisee
being recalled for a further period of training, treatment or imprisonment.
Under the Release Under Supervision and Pre-release
Employment Schemes, successful applicants may be discharged directly from
prison for after-care supervision or permitted to go out to work and live
in a hostel with after-care services. Both schemes aim at enabling suitable,
eligible and motivated prisoners to serve their sentences in an open environment
with supervision.
The Post-release Supervision Scheme provides after-care
supervision for certain categories of adult prisoners to facilitate their
rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Prisoners breaching the
supervision conditions may be recalled to serve the balance of their unexpired
supervision period. Prisoners with indeterminate sentences may, before
the Long-term Prison Sentences Review Board makes recommendations as to
whether their indeterminate sentences should be converted to determinate
ones, be conditionally released under supervision for a specific period
to test their determination and ability to lead a law-abiding life. Prisoners
whose indeterminate sentences have been converted to determinate ones
may also be ordered by the board to be placed under post-release supervision.
Success rates of the after-care programmes are measured
by the percentage of supervisees completing supervision without reconviction
and, as the case may be, remaining drug-free. In 2003, the success rates
were 96 per cent for detention centre inmates; 69 per cent for male training
centre inmates; 100 per cent for female training centre inmates; 92 per
cent for young male prisoners; 86 per cent for young female prisoners;
64 per cent for male drug addiction treatment centre inmates; 77 per cent
for female drug addiction treatment centre inmates; 100 per cent for the
Release Under Supervision Scheme; 100 per cent for the Pre-release Employment
Scheme; 91 per cent for the Post-release Supervision Scheme and 100 per
cent for those prisoners discharged under a conditional release order
or supervision after release order. There were no supervisees who completed
their supervision period under the Rehabilitation Centres Ordinance in
2003. Altogether, there were 2 601 males and 306 females under after-care
supervision at year-end.
Non-governmental organisations such as the Society of Rehabilitation
and Crime Prevention, Hong Kong, Buddhas' Light International Association
of Hong Kong, Caritas Lok Heep Club, Hong Kong Christian Kun Sun Association,
Christian Prison Pastoral Fellowship, Save the Children Hong Kong and
Wu Oi Christian Centre provide services to help offenders and discharged
inmates reintegrate into the community. They provide services such as
case work, counselling, hostel accommodation, employment assistance, recreational
activities and looking after children whose parents are in custody.
Community acceptance and support is of paramount importance to the rehabilitation
of offenders and their reintegration into society. Comprising representatives
of non-governmental organisations, government departments and professionals
from various sector of society, the Committee on Community Support for
Rehabilitated Offenders advises the Commissioner of Correctional Services
on rehabilitation programmes and publicity strategies.
A series of publicity activities has been launched
since 1999 to appeal for public support for rehabilitated offenders. The
major activities in 2003 included joint community activities organised
with the 18 District Fight Crime Committees, an inter-institutional band
contest, a musical performance highlighting scouting activities of inmates
of the training centres, and the production of a VCD for the second series
of the TV documentary-drama The Road Back. An increasing number
of community groups share the view that the community as a whole will
benefit from the successful transition of rehabilitated offenders, and
express interest in rendering support to them after learning of their
needs and the efforts they have made towards rehabilitation.
Information technology is used extensively in the CSD to improve its
efficiency in daily operation and record-keeping. Computer systems are
used in the management of the movement of persons in custody, their daily
provisions, work flow of the Correctional Services Industries, as well
as staff management and administration. Continuous efforts are being made
to enhance the quality and efficiency of prison management and rehabilitation
services through the introduction of new technologies.
The Quality Assurance Division of the department initiates
quality management to improve operations by carrying out management studies,
inspections and evaluation of services as well as updating departmental
practices to bring them in line with the prevailing policy and the changing
needs of the community.
To strive for excellence in the delivery of quality custodial and rehabilitative
services, the department is committed to providing staff with comprehensive
training in modern correctional services and management skills. The department
uses information technology to enhance efficacy both in the provision
of training information and in the management of training resources. To
promote self-learning, an e-learning platform has been established where
staff can access various web-based training materials.
The Staff Development Theme for the year was 'Organisational
Learning' which was an extension of the Corporate Culture Change Project
that started in 2000 to advocate flexibility in the management of the
department. As a learning organisation, the department encourages participation
in the learning process at both individual and team levels. Apart from
training new recruits, the Staff Training Institute (STI) offers serving
staff with a wide range of job-related and professional training courses.
Weekly in-service training is provided at team level at each correctional
institution. The training curricula place equal emphasis on theory and
practice, and include laws of the HKSAR, departmental rules and regulations,
counselling, management, psychology, criminology, penology, first aid,
foot drill, anti-riot drill, self-defence, tactical training, adventure
training, field training, Putonghua, writing skills and information technology.
Customised training courses are scheduled from time
to time to upgrade officers' professional knowledge and to develop their
competencies for higher responsibilities. Some examples include the 'Diploma
in Penology' jointly organised by the department and the School of Continuing
Education of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the course on 'Disciplinary
Proceedings and Practices' organised by the Law Division of the School
of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Hong Kong.
The 'Leadership Development Scheme' arranged by the department and the
Civil Service Training and Development Institute provides selected senior
officers with an opportunity to attend leadership and management training
programmes organised by reputable academic institutions and training bodies
in Hong Kong.
In an effort to broaden the horizon of staff and keep
them abreast of contemporary correctional issues, overseas training and
visits are arranged regularly. For example, the department has been sending
suitable officers of middle and senior ranks to attend exchange programmes
and attachment training at Correctional Services Canada since 2001.
Each penal institution is visited by Justices of the Peace fortnightly
or monthly, depending on the type of institutions. The Justices of the
Peace receive and investigate complaints from prisoners, inspects diets
and examine living and working conditions.
The Complaints Investigation Unit is responsible for handling and investigating
complaints in relation to the department's work. All investigation reports
are subject to the scrutiny of the Correctional Services Department Complaints
Committee chaired by the department's Civil Secretary. This unit acquired
the ISO 9001:2000 Certificate in August 2002 for its complaints handling
services.
Inmates may also lodge complaints with visiting senior
officers or utilise other channels for redress of grievances, such as
by making complaints to visiting Justices of the Peace, The Ombudsman
and Legislative Councillors. |
