ENG-1996 — Page 389

PUBLIC ORDER

Ante-natal and post-natal care is provided in institutions for female inmates, but babies are normally delivered in public hospitals. Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre treats prisoners with mental health problems, and offers psychiatric consultations and assessments for inmates referred by other institutions and the courts.

Psychological Services

Clinical psychologists and specially trained officers counsel inmates with emotional difficulties, behavioural and personality problems. Professional consultation is offered to the courts, review boards and institutional management making decisions on the treatment and management of offenders. Research projects are regularly undertaken to better understand offenders' characteristics and needs, and to improve treatment.

Visiting Justices

Justices of the Peace visit penal institutions and VM centres 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 employment opportunities for released prisoners.

Inspectorate and Management Services

The Inspectorate and Management Services Division studies and monitors the efficacy and efficiency of departmental policies and the management of prison establishments. Its Inspectorate Unit monitors departmental activities through inspections and furnishes specialist advice on all security aspects.

The Complaints Investigation Unit investigates complaints in order to redress. grievances. The Management Services Unit reviews standing instructions, departmental manuals, rules and regulations, and conducts management studies to meet the changing needs of the community and the department.

After-care Services

After-care services are provided for inmates discharged from training, detention and drug addiction treatment centres, and to prisoners who participate in the Post- Release Supervision Scheme, the Release Under Supervision and Pre-release Employment Schemes. After-care aims primarily to ease offenders' rehabilitation and re-integration into society. A sound relationship between the inmate, his family and the after-care officer is built up, to help the inmate overcome obstacles to rehabilitation. The after-care officer maintains regular contact with ex-inmates during the statutory supervision periods to ensure that they settle well into the community and comply with the conditions of the supervision orders. Any breach of supervision conditions may result in the person being recalled for a further period of training or treatment.

Following approval by the Release Under Supervision Board, successful applicants are discharged or permitted to go out to work and live in a designated hostel, under the supervision of after-care officers, for the balance of their sentences. The aim is to enable suitable, eligible and motivated prisoners to serve their sentences in an open environment under close supervision. Prisoners who breach supervision conditions may be recalled to serve the remainder of their sentences or may be brought back before the courts for a breach of the supervision order.

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