ENG-2000 — Page 399

PUBLIC ORDER

Since the closure of the last detention centre for Vietnamese migrants in June 1998, all Vietnamese illegal immigrants are now detained in Victoria Prison after quarantine in the Green Island Reception Centre on arrival.

To cope with the perennial overcrowding problem in correctional institutions, the department is redeveloping Stanley Prison and Tai Lam Correctional Institution, and planning for the expansion of the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre.

Penal Population

In 2000, the penal population remained high and averaged 8 per cent over the certified accommodation, with prisons for adults being the major pressure points. Despite overcrowding which stretched resources, the CSD continued to implement its correctional programmes effectively.

In 2000, 14 638 adult offenders (10 484 males and 4 154 females) were sentenced to imprisonment, and 6 849 adult offenders (5 533 males and 1 316 females) were received for custody on remand. The number of young offenders sentenced to imprisonment totalled 1 108 (498 males and 610 females), and 938 young offenders (636 males and 302 females) were received for custody on remand. Besides this, 549 young offenders (531 males and 18 females) were sentenced to detention in training centres or the detention centre, and 1 414 offenders (1 227 males and 187 females) to drug addiction treatment centres.

Inmates discharged from training centres, detention centre and drug addiction treatment centres, discharged young prisoners subject to the Criminal Procedure Ordinance as well as prisoners discharged under the Release Under Supervision Scheme, Pre-release Employment Scheme, Post-release Supervision of Prisoners. Scheme, Conditional Release Scheme and the Supervision After Release Scheme have to undergo different periods of statutory supervision. During the year, 2403 offenders were discharged under supervision. They, together with those discharged in previous years and who had yet to complete their supervision period, made a total of 2 764 persons (2 517 males and 247 females) under the CSD's supervision at the end of 2000. During the year, 604 persons (535 males and 69 females) were recalled for breach of supervision conditions.

Pre-sentence Assessment Panel

Young persons aged between 14 and 20, who are convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment, may be remanded in custody for a period not exceeding three weeks for assessment of their suitability for admission to a training centre, detention centre or drug addiction treatment centre and making recommendations to the courts. Young male adults aged between 21 and 24 may be similarly remanded for admission to the detention centre.

The CSD runs the Pre-sentence Assessment Panel that makes recommendations to the courts on the suitability of offenders for detention in a detention centre, training centre or drug addiction treatment centre. The panel investigates all cases referred by the courts, and prepares suitability reports for them. In 2000, 5 979 offenders were remanded for suitability reports, and the panel found 1 482 males and 69 females suitable for admission to a detention centre or a training centre, and 1 726 males and 268 females suitable for admission to a drug addiction treatment centre.

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