XN000022-1984-01-20 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1984

CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PRAISED FOR PROGRESS

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT HE WAS PLEASED TO SEE THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT CONTINUE ITS PROGRAMME OF DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT.

→IN DOING SO, IT HAS SHOWN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEED FOR THESE PROGRAMMES TO REMAIN RESPONSIVE TO THE CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE 1980'S. + SIR EDWARD SAID AT THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL INSPECTION AT THE PARADE GROUND OF THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY.

+THIS NEED IS WELL ILLUSTRATED BY THE FACT THAT THE FIGURE OF 1 300 PRISONERS SERVING SENTENCES OF OVER SIX YEARS ÁT THE END OF 1983 IS ALMOST DOUBLE THE NUMBER AT THE END OF 1979, + HE SAID,

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT SOUND CORRECTIONAL AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES WERE NECESSARY IF THERE WAS TO BE ANY PROSPECT OF THOSE HELD IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS LEADING A LAW-ABIDING LIFE ON THEIR RELEASE. THE SUCCESS OF YOUR EFFORTS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF,+ HE ADDED.

THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HE SAID, CONTINUED TO ATTRACT INTERNATIONAL INTEREST BOTH IN THE METHODS IT USES AND IN THE RESULTS IT ACHIEVES.

SIR EDWARD ALSO CITED A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT PROJECTS COMPLETED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN 1983, INCLUDING A MUCH-NEEDED EXTENSION TO THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE AND THE OPENING OF THE LAI SUN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS ON MEI LING CHAU,

IN ADDITION, PHOENIX HOUSE, WHICH WAS OPENED IN JULY, PROVIDE A HALF-WAY HOUSE FOR 120 PRISONERS, THEREBY ASSISTING THEM IN THE TRANSITION FROM INSTITUTIONAL TO COMMUNITY LIFE. WORK CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON THE NEW TOP SECURITY PRISON AT SHEK PIK, EXPECTED TO BE FULLY OPERATIONAL BY EASTER,+ HE SAID.

IN ITS MANAGEMENT OF THE DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT AND DETENTION CENTRES, THE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO REDUCE SUBSTANTIALLY THE AVERAGE STAY IN THESE CENTRES. DURING 1983 THE AVERAGE DAILY MUSTER OF PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THESE PROGRAMMES WAS REDUCED BY MORE THAN 500 TO 1950, HE SAID.

+THIS HAS NOT BEEN ACHIEVED BY REDUCING STANDARDS OR SUCCESS RATES. BOTH REMAIN HIGH BY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS+, HE SAID,

SIR EDWARD SAID, THE PAROLE AND PRE-RELEASE EMPLOYMENT SCHEMES TO BE IMPLEMENTED LATER THIS YEAR WERE FURTHER STEPS FORWARD IN CORRECTING THE ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR OF OFFENDERS SO THAT THEY DO NOT REVERT TO CRIME AFTER THEY LEAVE PRISON.

/HE NOTED