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Public Order
different work posts according to their fitness and security ratings, personal experience and balance of sentence. They receive earnings, which may be used to buy approved articles and canteen items, as an incentive to acquire good working habits and vocational skills. They can watch television and read newspapers and library books. They may send and receive letters, receive visits and take part in religious services.
Correctional Facilities
Among the 29 correctional facilities, nine are for adult male offenders and two are for adult female offenders. Young males are housed in two correctional institutions, one detention centre, one training centre and two rehabilitation centres, while young females are accommodated at one correctional institution and two rehabilitation centres. Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre, Lai Sun Correctional Institution, Nei Kwu Correctional Institution and part of Lai King Correctional Institution accommodate convicted drug addicts. Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre separately houses males and females in custody of all categories who require psychiatric observation, treatment or assessment. Seven of the correctional facilities cater for remanded people of different age groups. Each correctional facility typically has dormitories, a kitchen, dining rooms, a laundry, workshops, areas for exercise and recreation, a library and a hospital. The department also manages two custodial wards in public hospitals for persons in custody who require special medical care or surgery.
The department operates three halfway houses to help those released under supervision reintegrate into society. The residents may go out to work or attend school during daytime.
Penal Population
In 2016, 10,643 adults (7,242 men and 3,401 women) were sentenced to imprisonment, 6,093 adults on remand (4,524 men and 1,569 women) were taken into custody, 215 young offenders (168 males and 47 females) were sentenced to imprisonment, and 313 young persons on remand (275 males and 38 females) were taken into custody. In addition, 205 offenders (191 males and 14 females) were sentenced to detention in training centres, rehabilitation centres or the detention centre in Sha Tsui, 917 offenders (712 males and 205 females) were placed in drug addiction treatment centres, and 1,663 offenders (1,392 males and 271 females) were remanded pending reports on their suitability for sentencing to one of these centres.
Most of the correctional facilities are either aged or were originally built for other purposes. In 2016, Tai Lam Centre for Women completed partial redevelopment that provided 128 additional penal places and enhanced its facilities. The department will continue to explore other possible redevelopment improvement projects.
Pre-sentence Assessment
Young offenders and offenders with drug addiction problems who are convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment may be remanded in custody for not more than three weeks to assess their suitability for admission to a correctional facility. In 2016, the Rehabilitation Unit prepared 2,623 suitability reports for the courts, and recommended 410 males and 33 females as suitable for admission to a rehabilitation centre, a training centre or the detention centre in Sha Tsui, and 880 males and 269 females as suitable for a drug addiction treatment centre.
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