ENG-2001 — Page 418

PUBLIC ORDER

350

and 1737 offenders (1 485 males and 252 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, 3088 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 3 333 persons (3 025 males and 308 females) under the CSD's supervision at the end of 2001. During the year, 636 persons (554 males and 82 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 2001, 6 129 offenders were remanded for suitability reports, and the panel found 1 507 males and 81 females. suitable for admission to a detention centre or a training centre, and 1 929 males and 349 females suitable for admission to a drug addiction treatment centre.

Young Offender Assessment Panel

The Young Offender Assessment Panel, comprising representatives from the CSD and the Social Welfare Department, makes recommendations to magistrates and judges on the most appropriate rehabilitation programmes for young male offenders aged between 14 and 24 and females aged 14 to 20. In 2001, the panel received a total of 531 referrals from judges and magistrates and 85 per cent of its recommendations were accepted.

Training Centres and Detention Centre

Training centres provide correctional training for young offenders for periods ranging from a minimum of six months to a maximum of three years. These offenders attend half-day educational classes and receive half-day vocational training. They also receive character development training in the form of scouting or guiding, Hong Kong Award for Young People activities and Outward Bound training. On Sundays and public holidays, visits are made to youth centres, factories, sports centres and country parks. Activities to provide social service for the elderly, and the mentally and physically handicapped are arranged for inmates nearing discharge to better prepare them for reintegration into society. To help inmates gain family support, newsletters and booklets are published, and a parent-inmate centre was established at