WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1981
12
CHANGE NEEDED IN CORRECTIONAL CENTRES FOR JUVENILES
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THE REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT TODAY CALLED FOR A COMPLETE REORGANISATION OF THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN HONG KONG.
IN MAKING HER PLEA, MISS BENNETT SUGGESTED THAT PROBATION WORK AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS BE FULLY INTEGRATED WITH THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT SOCIAL WORKERS WHO SPENT A YEAR OR TWO OR MORE AS PROBATION OFFICERS AND THEN RETURNED FULLY TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE FIELD WOULD NEVER MAKE SATISFACTORY PROBATION OFFICERS.
PROBATION WORK IS A SPECIALISED CAREER AND THE EXPERTISE NEEDED IN IT IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT IN THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION, SHE STRESSED.
MISS BENNETT, WHO CHAIRS AN AD HOC GROUP FORMED BY UNOFFICIALS TO LOOK INTO THE RUNNING OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR JUVENILES IN HONG KONG, SAID: THE GROUP HAS SEEN THAT YOUNG PEOPLE MAY COMMIT OFFENCES FOR MANY REASONS, NOT THE LEAST IMPORTANT CAN BE THE IR UNSATISFACTORY HOMES AND LACK OF PARENTAL CONTROL.
+HOWEVER, WE HAVE BEEN CONVINCED THAT THE YOUNG OFFENDERS MUST BE BROUGHT FACE TO FACE WITH THE FACT THAT OFFENCES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED.
+THIS FACT MUST NOT BE CONCEALED. WE CONSIDER THAT THE YOUNG OFFENDER NEEDS TO RECEIVE SOME CLEAR PUNISHMENT TO BRING HOME TO HIM THAT HIS UNSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR CANNOT BE TOLERATED.
+WE MUST NOT BE MISLED BY ANY STARRY-EYED IDEAL ISM FROM OVERSEAS THAT DISCIPLINE IS OLD-FASHIONED. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING CHANGES IN OUR CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.+
INDEED, MISS BENNETT SAID, THE UNOFFICIALS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE YOUNG OFFENDERS PUT UNDER THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT CORRECTION.
SHE NOTED THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT A RECOMMENDATION PUT FORWARD A FEW YEARS AGO THAT THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE RENAMED THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES.
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS COMMITTED TO INSTITUTIONAL CARE AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY BY THE COURTS SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFORM THEMSELVES IN A PROPERLY DESIGNATED SECTION OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT, SHE ADDED.
THE PRISONS
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