SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1987
MORE PROPOSALS UNDER STUDY FOR REHABILITATING OFFENDERS *****
THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING FURTHER PROPOSALS DESIGNED TO HELP OFFENDERS WHO GENUINELY WANT TO REFORM THEMSELVES, AND TO INTEGRATE THEMSELVES BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT FALLING AGAIN INTO CRIME, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
THESE PROPOSALS INCLUDE A PAROLE SCHEME UNDER WHICH PRISONERS SERVING THREE YEARS OR MORE MAY APPLY TO BE RELEASED UNDER SUPERVISION AFTER HAVING SERVED HALF OF THEIR SENTENCE- A PRE- RELEASE EMPLOYMENT SCHEME WHEREBY PRISONERS MAY APPLY TO START WORK IN THE COMMUNITY SIX MONTHS BEFORE THEY ARE DUE TO BE RELEASED WHILE STAYING IN A SPECIAL HOSTEL AND A PARTIALLY SUSPENDED SENTENCE SCHEME WHICH ALLOWS THE COURTS TO PASS A SENTENCE WHICH COMBINES BOTH A CUSTODIAL PERIOD AND A PERIOD OF SUSPENDED CUSTODY.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A CONFERENCE ON YOUTH PROBLEMS ORGANISED BY THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MR JEÄFFRESON SAID THESE WERE IN ADDITION TO TWO RECENTLY INTRODUCED PIECES OF LEGISLATION TO ASSIST IN REHABILITATION.
+THE FIRST IS THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ORDINANCE, WHICH PROVIDES FOR CERTAIN CONVICTIONS TO BECOME SPENT AFTER THREE YEARS IF THE PERSON CONCERNED BEHAVES HIMSELF, THUS PROVIDING AN INCENTIVE FOR HIM NOT TO REVERT TO CRIME.
+THE SECOND IS THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS ORDINANCE WHICH ALLOWS THE COURTS TO ORDER A CONVICTED OFFENDER TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE INSTEAD OF SERVING A SENTENCE IN PRISON, HE SAID.
MR JEAFFRESON STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO LOOKING SERIOUSLY AT MEASURES TO PREVENT YOUTHS FROM BECOMING DELINQUENTS.
+IN THIS CONTEXT, THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD RECENTLY SET UP A GROUP TO STUDY THE BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDES OF YOUTHS IN KWUN TONG.
+WE HAVE NOW AGREED THAT, TO FOLLOW UP THIS REPORT, A GROUP UNDER THE DISTRICT BOARD WILL LOOK IN DETAIL AT THE MANY FACETS OF THE PROBLEM AND TRY TO COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO ALLEVIATE IT, HE SAID.
MR JEAFFRESON SAID THERE WOULD BE NO QUICK NOR EASY ANSWER THAT GAVE YOUTH A BETTER CHANCE TO LEAD A WHOLESOME AND VITAL LIFE.
+THEIR PROBLEMS WILL NEED TO BE TACKLED ON A WIDE FRONT AND OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE WE SHALL SEE POSITIVE RESULTS,+ HE SAID.
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