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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1988
PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE ADMINISTRATION OF REFORMATORY SCHOOLS
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AMENDMENTS ΤΟ EXISTING LEGISLATION ARE BEING PROPOSED IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF REFORMATORY SCHOOLS.
TO
1988, PUBLISHED IN
THE REFORMATORY SCHOOLS (AMENDMENT) BILL THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY), PROPOSES THAT THE MAXIMUM PERIOD OF DETENTION IN A REFORMATORY SCHOOL BE REDUCED FROM FIVE YEARS TO THREE YEARS.
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY OPERATES TWO REFORMATORY SCHOOLS: THE CASTLE PEAK BOYS' HOME AND THE
PUI SHAN BOYS' HOME.
THESE ARE BASICALLY RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS WHICH PROVIDE DAILY CARE TOGETHER WITH A PROGRAMME OF TRAINING FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS.
UNDER THE EXISTING LEGISLATION, A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER MAY BE DETAINED IN A REFORMATORY SCHOOL FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN ONE YEAR AND NOT MORE THAN FIVE YEARS, AND IN ANY EVENT NOT BEYOND THE DATE AT WHICH THE OFFENDER REACHES THE AGE OF 18 YEARS.
"THE FIVE-YEAR DETENTION PERIOD IS CONSIDERED COMPARED WITH OTHER TRAINING CENTRES, WHICH HAVE A MAXIMUM PERIOD OF ONLY THREE YEARS," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID,
TOO LONG DETENTION
REACT
"EXPERIENCE ALSO SHOWS THAT YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS SOMETIMES STRONGLY AGAINST SENTENCING то REFORMATORY SCHOOLS DUE TO THE POSSIBLE LENGTH OF DETENTION AND THE LONG AFTER-CARE SERVICE.
THE LONG DETENTION PERIOD MAY ALSO CAUSE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AMONG INMATES AND RESULT IN THEIR HAVING BEHAVIOURAL, PROBLEMS OR ATTEMPTING TO ABSCOND," HE ADDED.
HE SAID THE DIRECTOR OF
SOCIAL WELFARE CONSIDERED THAT DETENTION BEYOND THIS PERIOD HAD NO POSITIVE EFFECT ON OFFENDERS AND IT WAS THEREFORE PROPOSED THAT THE MAXIMUM PERIOD BE REDUCED FROM FIVE TO THREE YEARS.
TT
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES TO REPLACE THE TERM 'INCORRIGIBLE IN THE ORDINANCE WITH THE PHRASE "A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER WHO IS UNSUITABLE FOR FURTHER DETENTION IN A REFORMATORY SCHOOL".
է
+
INCORRIGIBLE
"IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THE TERM
CARRIES A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION AND IMPLIES THAT THE OFFENDER'S BEHAVIOUR CANNOT BE IMPROVED.
"WHILST THE OFFENDER MAY HAVE FAILED TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE RESULTS IN A REFORMATORY SCHOOL, THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT HE WILL NOT IMPROVE IN ANOTHER ENVIRONMENT OR AS A RESULT DIFFERENT TRAINING PROGRAMME.
OF A
3
I
"THE PROPOSED
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