PUBLIC ORDER
responsibility to streamline procedures to meet the changing needs of the community by reviewing standing instructions, department manuals, rules and regulations; to inspect, and to furnish specialist advice on how to improve, physical and procedural security measures in penal institutions; to maintain an intelligence pool on prisoners' subversive activities; and to redress grievances and investigate complaints lodged by prisoners and the public, as well as correctional services staff.
After-care Services
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After-care services are provided to inmates discharged from training, detention and drug addiction treatment centres; and to prisoners who participate in the Release Under Supervision and Pre-release Employment Schemes. The primary objective of after-care is to assist offenders in their rehabilitation and re-integration into the community. It also plays an essential role in enhancing their determination to lead an industrious and law-abiding life
upon discharge.
After-care commences immediately after the admission of an inmate into an institution, or when a prisoner has been approved to participate in the Release Under Supervision and Pre-release Employment Schemes. Each inmate is assigned an after-care officer, who will provide him with appropriate support and guidance, enabling him to adapt to the institutional programme and to prepare him for subsequent discharge. A sound relationship between the inmate, his family and the after-care officer is developed, to help the inmate overcome obstacles to rehabilitation.
Inmates are assisted, through individual and group counselling, to gain a better insight into problems arising from their personal and social inadequacies. They are helped to become better prepared to cope with difficulties upon release.
Under the provisions of the Prisoners (Release under Supervision) Ordinance, prisoners, other than those serving life sentences or subject to deportation upon discharge, who have served not less than half or 20 months (whichever period is the longer) of a sentence of three years or more may apply to join the Release Under Supervision Scheme for the remaining portion of their sentences; and those who are serving sentences of two years or more and are within six months of completing their sentences, after taking into consideration remission, may apply to join the Pre-release Employment Scheme. Following approval by the Release Under Supervision Board, successful applicants are discharged or permitted to go out to work and reside in a designated hostel, under the supervision of after-care officers, for the balance of their sentences. The aim of the scheme is to enable suitable, eligible and motivated prisoners to serve their sentences in an open environment under close supervision. Prisoners who breach supervision conditions may be recalled to serve the remainder of their sentences or charged in court with a breach of the supervision order.
The success of the after-care programmes is measured by the percentage of supervisees who complete supervision without re-conviction and, where applicable, remain drug-free. At the end of 1993, the annual success rates were 94 per cent for detention centre inmates, 69 per cent for male training centre inmates, 94 per cent for female training centre inmates, 78 per cent for young male prisoners, 100 per cent for young female prisoners, 63 per cent for male drug addiction treatment centre inmates, 74 per cent for female drug addiction treatment centre inmates, 100 per cent for the Release Under Supervision Scheme and 100 per cent for the Pre-release Employment Scheme.
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