XN000022-1987-07-08 — Page 64

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1987

MADE

HE SAID IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE EARLY RELEASE WOULD BE AFTER 20 MONTHS OR ONE HALF OF THE SENTENCE WHICHEVER WAS THE GREATER.

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NOTING THAT THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAD ALMOST YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE AFTERCARE OF PERSONS WHO HAD BEEN IN TRAINING CENTRES, DENTENTION CENTRES AND DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE ABLE ΤΟ RENDER APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE TO THE ADULT PRISONERS RELEASED ON PAROLE.

HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE PROVIDED WITH SOME ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR THIS PURPOSE.

TURNING TO THE REACTION OF THE PUBLIC, MR JEAFFRESON SAID IT WAS NOW EVIDENT THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE OF REHABILITATION IN TREATING PRISONERS.

HE SAID THAT SINCE THE BILL WAS GAZEtted on JUNE 26, SCHEMES SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN WELL RECEIVED AS A MEANS BETTER ΤΟ REHABILITATE OFFENDERS.

"GIVEN THIS PUBLIC SUPPORT, WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE PROPOSED SCHEMES HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF BEING A SUCCESS, HE NOTED.

MR JEAFFRESON SAID A RELEASED PRISONER RESIDE IN A HOSTEL WHICH WAS UNDER THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND IF So, FROM THE HOSTEL WOULD BE PUNISHABLE.

MIGHT BE REQUIRED то ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE

"BUT WHETHER OR NOT HE IS REQUIRED TO RESIDE IN A HOSTEL, HE WILL RECEIVE A SUPERVISION ORDER FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, WHICH WILL SET OUT THE CONDITIONS AGREED FOR HIS RELEASE AND WILL SPECIFY THE DATE ON WHICH THE ORDER WILL EXPIRE,

HE SAID.

THE CONDITIONS OF HIS RELEASE WOULD INCLUDE A REQUIREMENT TO MEET REGULARLY WITH HIS SUPERVISOR AND TO DISASSOCIATE WITH CRIMINAL ELEMENTS, AND COULD INCLUDE A REQUIREMENT ΤΟ LIVE IN A CERTAIN LOCATION, TO CONTRIBUTE ΤΟ HIS FAMILY AND IF NECESSARY TO HAVE MEDICAL ATTENTION, MR JEAFFRESON SAID,

A PRISONER WHOSE APPLICATION FOR RELEASE UNDER SUPERVISION WAS REFUSED WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR A REVIEW OF THE DECISION TO REFUSE HIS RELEASE.

THE BILL ALSO PROVIDED FOR CASES IN WHICH A SUPERVISION ORDER MIGHT BE TERMINATED BEFORE ITS DUE EXPIRY DATE.

MR JEAFFRESON SAID A SUPERVISION ORDER WOULD BE CAPABLE OF BEING REVOKED BY THE GOVERNOR ON THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION, OR BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE PUBLIC INTEREST REQUIRED IMMEDIATE ACTION.

/HE SAID