XN000022-1986-05-28 — Page 38

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1986

APART FROM HAVING GENUINE CONCERN FOR THE PROBATIONER, THE PROBATION OFFICER MUST ALSO INDICATE EXPECTATION AND PLACE EMPHASIS ON POSITIVE ASPECTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF OFFENDERS WITH A LOW REGARD OF THEMSELVES.

+PROBATION OFFICERS NEED ALSO TO RENDER CONSTANT GUIDANCE TO THE PARENTS TO FACILITATE THEM TO TAKE UP A MORE RESPONSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE ROLE IN CHILD DISCIPLINE,

+IN ADDITION TO THE CASEWORK METHODS EMPLOYED IN WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, PROBATION OFFICERS WILL, FROM TIME TO TIME, MOBILISE VARIOUS SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO ASSIST THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS,+ MRS CHAN SAID.

THE DEPARTMENT AT PRESENT RAN SEVEN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF WHICH THREE PROBATION HOMES AND A PROBATION HOSTEL ESPECIALLY FOR PROBATIONERS WHOSE ORDERS STIPULATED A PERIOD OF RESIDENCE IN SUCH HOMES.

PROBATIONERS WOULD BE PROVIDED WITH BASIC EDUCATION AND TRADE TRAINING WHILE IN RESIDENCE.

TO KEEP PACE WITH CHANGING NEEDS, MR CHAN SAID, THE DEPARTMENT HAD OPENED THE PUI CHI BOYS' HOME IN 1984 TO COPE WITH DEMAND, AND PLANNED ANOTHER GIRLS' HOME OF 120 PLACES IN TUEN MUN AS WELL AS TO REPROVISION THE BEGONIA ROAD BOYS' HOME IN JUNK BAY NEW TOWN.

THE VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS WAS ANOTHER RESOURCE DEVELOPED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN 1978 TO ACTIVELY SUPPORT THE PROBATION SERVICE.

IT IS FOR CITIZENS OVER 21 PREPARED TO SHARE THEIR LEISURE TIME, EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS WITH OFFENDERS.

+SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THIS SCHEME. OVER 190 VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN MATCHED FOR SERVICE AND THE SCHEME HAS PROVED TO BE SATISFYING TO BOTH VOLUNTEERS AND PROBATIONERS,+ SHE SAID.

ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDER SCHEME, MR CHAN SAID LAST YEAR AN OFFICER WAS SENT OVERSEAS TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS SCHEME AND HOW BEST IT COULD BE APPLIED TO MEET LOCAL NEEDS.

+ WE HOPE LATER THIS YEAR TO BE ABLE TO LAUNCH A PILOT PROJECT TO TEST ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND TO PROVIDE A BETTER BASIS FOR FUTURE PLANNING, SHE ADDED.

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