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hospitals. In all, 6 950 staff were looking after a daily average of 12 296 inmates, 178 illegal immigrants and 3 160 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. A training centre programme is available for both male and female young offenders aged between 14 and 20. A detention centre programme is available for male offenders aged between 14 and 24. A new rehabilitation centre programme has been made available since July 2002 for male and female young offenders aged between 14 and 20. 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 the medical officers, 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 and voluntary programmes 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 centres, 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.
Penal Institutions
The CSD manages 13 prisons for adult males, consisting of three maximum, five medium and five minimum security institutions. Two prisons and an annex accommodate adult females. 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 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 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