ENG-1990 — Page 332

PUBLIC ORDER

A pilot scheme providing vocational training in special sewing machine operation and in basic arc and gas welding has also been introduced for adult offenders at Ma Po Ping Prison and Tai Lam Correctional Institution.

Medical Services

All institutions have their own medical units providing basic treatment, health and dental care, including radiodiagnostic and pathological examinations as well as prophylactic inoculations. Inmates requiring specialist treatment are either referred to a visiting consultant or transferred to public hospitals.

Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre and the psychiatric observation unit at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre treat prisoners with mental health problems and offer psychiatric consultations and assessments for inmates referred by other institutions and the courts.

Ante-natal and post-natal care is provided within institutions for female inmates but babies are normally delivered in public hospitals.

Psychological Services

Psychologists and specially-trained officers provide a wide range of counselling services for prisoners and inmates with emotional difficulties, behavioural or personality problems. In-depth reports are prepared on request to assist the courts in their sentencing and to help the department in assessing an offender's suitability for particular programmes. Research projects are regularly undertaken in order to improve treatment programmes and to reduce recidivism.

Visiting Justices

Justices of the Peace appointed by the Governor visit penal institutions and the centres for Vietnamese boat people, either fortnightly or monthly, depending on the type of institution. They investigate complaints, inspect diets and report on living and working conditions. They may also advise the Commissioner of Correctional Services on the employment of prisoners and work opportunities after release.

After-care Services

After-care plays an important role in assisting the prisoners and inmates to rehabilitate and to re-integrate into the community. It helps also to enhance the determination of a prisoner or inmate to lead an industrious and law-abiding life after release. This service is currently available to inmates discharged from training, detention and drug addiction treatment centres, young prisoners and adult prisoners released under the Release Under Supervision and Pre-release Employment Schemes.

After-care begins immediately following the admission of an inmate into an institution. Each inmate is assigned to the care of an after-care officer who will then conduct intake interviews and preliminary home investigations to establish a sound relationship with the inmate and his family.

Individual and group counselling are conducted to enable the inmates to gain a better insight into problems arising from their social inadequacies. Through such counselling, the inmates are helped to become better prepared to cope with the difficulties they may encounter upon release, such as finding suitable accommodation, a job or school placement.

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