XN000022-1988-03-09 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1988

USEFULNESS OF COUNSELLING DEPENDS ON INDIVIDUAL OFFENDER

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SPECIFY PRECISELY WHAT TYPE OR TYPES OF

THE OFFENDERS ARE LIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM COUNSELLING,

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHAN YING-LUN, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT MANY OF THOSE CONVICTED OF MINOR OFFENCES DID NOT NEED SUCH A SERVICE WHILE FOR OTHERS, SUCH AS RECIDIVISTS, COUNSELLING WAS UNLIKELY TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE.

"IN GENERAL, EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT COUNSELLING WORKS BEST WITH THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME AS A RESULT OF SOCIAL PRESSURES SUCH AS FAMILY AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS OR ASSOCIATING WITH ANTI-SOCIAL ELEMENTS, HE SAID.

++

"AT PRESENT WE DO LEVE PROPOSE ΤΟ SEEK ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PUR AR, ALTHOUGH FUNDS HAVE BEEN EARMARKED THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL POSTS TO REDUCE THE CASE-LOADS OF THE SOCIAL WORKERS WHO WORK IN THE FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES.

I

MR CHAMBERS POINTED OUT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH AN OFFENDER GIVEN A NON-CUSTODIAL SENTENCE MIGHT RECEIVE REHABILITATIVE COUNSELLING.

FIRSTLY, PERSONS SUBJECT ΤΟ PROBATION ORDERS SERVICE ORDERS WERE REQUIRED ΤΟ UNDERGO REHABILITATIVE PROVIDED BY STAFF OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

SECONDLY, A COURT MIGHT REFER OFFENDERS TO THE COUNSELLING OR OTHER WELFARE SERVICES.

OR COMMUNITY

COUNSELLING. +

DEPARTMENT FOR

"AN OFFENDER MAY ALSO RECEIVE COUNSELLING AT HIS OWN REQUEST, IN WHICH CASE THE SERVICE MAY BE PROVIDED BY EITHER THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OR BY A VOLUNTARY AGENCY, HE SAID.

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IN ADDITION, THE SOCIETY FOR THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS HAD SINCE APRIL LAST YEAR BEEN OPERATING A PILOT PROJECT ΤΟ PROVIDE COUNSELLING FOR OFFENDERS WHO WERE GIVEN NON-CUSTODIAL SENTENCES.

MR CHAMBERS ALSO SAID THE TYPE OF REHABILITATIVE COUNSELLING PROVIDED DEPENDED ON THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL CONCERNED.

"THE USUAL APPROACH IS FOR THE SOCIAL WORKER TO DISCUSS ANY PROBLEMS THAT THE OFFENDER MAY HAVE WHILST TRYING TO DELVE INTO THE SITUATION WHICH LED TO THE CRIME BEING COMMITTED.

"ONCE A RAPPORT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, THE SOCIAL WORKER CAN PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND ADVICE ON MATTERS SUCH AS THE IMPROVEMENT OF CAN SOCIAL SKILLS OR SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, AND WAYS IN WHICH THE OFFENDER AVOID BECOMING INVOLVED IN ANY FURTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

"ARRANGEMENTS CAN ALSO BE MADE FOR OFFENDERS TO BE PROVIDED WITH OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE AS APPROPRIATE, SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS OR HELP WITH EMPLOYMENT OR EDUCATION, HE SAID.

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