Under the Young Offenders Section (YOS), the Court can order residents of Boys’ Home to serve the remaining of their term in Reformative Training Centre (RTC) as YOS, if they had breached the Home’s rules. Alternatively, the Court can order the boys to serve six months in RTC and then complete their term in the Boys’ Home. Also under this section, the Juvenile Court can order a young offender to serve a term in RTC as YOS for a period.
The RTC houses young male offenders between 14 - 21 years of age who have been sentenced by the Court to undergo reformative training. It is recognised that the key to success in the rehabilitation of the Reformative Trainees (RTs) is a highly individualised form of institutional training and treatment followed by a period of closed supervision after their discharge.
The training consists of two phases. In the first phase, the residential phase, the trainees have to undergo counselling and compulsory academic and vocational training. This phase can last between 18 - 36 months, subject to the conduct and progress of the trainees. The programmes during this phase include counselling, education, vocational training and religious activities. These programmes are conducted based on the Housing Unit Management System, which ensures that each trainee has a Personal Supervisor who serves as a role model to the trainee under his charge. The Personal Supervisor looks after the trainee like a big brother or sister providing both guidance and leadership. The Personal Supervisor will also monitor the trainees’ welfare and behaviour closely and provide individualised attention to each trainee.
RTs who are keen to pursue academic education are transferred to
Kaki Bukit Centre (Prison School). The school provides a conducive learning environment for trainees to rehabilitate themselves through learning of skills and knowledge that will prepare them to re-integrate into the society. The school offers academic courses in BEST (Basic Education for Skills Training), WISE (Worker Improvement through Secondary Education), GCE “N”, “O” and “A” Levels and vocational training in electronics at NITEC (National Institute of Technical Education Certificate) Intermediate Level. The trainees in Prison School also undergo the Lifeskills Programme, Specialised Treatment Programme, Family Involvement Programme and Community Re-integration Programme.
After the residential phase, the trainees will be released under supervision. At this stage, the aim is to provide the trainees with supervised aftercare so as to facilitate their re-integration into society. The trainees will be expected to work or study and perform community work while under the care and supervision of Prisons Aftercare Officers.
The Changi Women Prison/DRC houses all categories for female prisoners and drug addicts, including female Reformative Trainees. It is the only female institution in Singapore. Inmates are allowed to attend religious classes, education and vocation training. Some courses conducted include IT training, hairdressing and embroidery. There are also parenting workshops, group and individual counselling and a Play and Wait programme catered for the children of female inmates.
Residential Rehabilitation and Aftercare Services (MCYS)
MCYS manages the Singapore Boys’ Home, the Singapore Boys’ Hostel, and the Singapore Girls’ Home to provide care and rehabilitation for children and young persons aged between seven and below 16 years. MCYS’ rehabilitative approach in the homes is guided by the principles of maximising every resident’s potential for rehabilitation, recognising the crucial role of the family in rehabilitation and community partnership to pave the way for the resident’s successful re-integration into society.
Core programmes in the homes include therapeutic rehabilitation programmes that target offending behaviour, family programmes to engage the parents’ support for the rehabilitation process, education and vocational development to equip residents with the skills to better their lives after they are discharged, and training in life skills and social skills. In addition, individual care plans are formulated to meet the needs and address the risks of each resident.
Residents are also given the opportunity to go on home leave and be rehabilitated in the community through the Aftercare Services. Together with the rehabilitation officers in the juvenile homes, MCYS’ aftercare officers continue to see them regularly and conduct further rehabilitation programmes to optimise their rehabilitation in the community and address problems faced outside the homes. Aftercare services help to smoothen the process of re-integration into society so that the juveniles will go on to lead productive and socially responsible lives after leaving the homes.
Yellow Ribbon Project
The Yellow Ribbon Project (YRP) seeks to help ex-offenders who take responsibility for their own actions and are trying their best to persevere and earn back the trust from their family, friends, colleagues and the community. The Yellow Ribbon Project engages the community to offer second chances to ex-offenders who sincerely want to change. For more details about YRP, please visit the website at www.yellowribbon.org.sg.
