ENG-2002 — Page 406

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males and 162 females suitable for admission to a rehabilitation centre, a training centre or a detention centre, and 1 440 males and 303 females suitable for 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 2002, the panel received a total of 521 referrals from judges and magistrates and 85 per cent of its recommendations were accepted.

Training Centres, Detention Centre and Rehabilitation Centres

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 the Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution in 1999. Upon release, inmates must have suitable employment, education or vocational training and are subject to a statutory period of supervision of three years.

An effective detention centre programme is carried out at the Sha Tsui Detention Centre for young male offenders aged between 14 and 20, and young male adults aged between 21 and 24. It emphasises strict discipline, strenuous training, hard work and a vigorous routine. After release, detainees are subject to a statutory supervision period of one year.

The CSD began to operate rehabilitation centres under the Rehabilitation Centres Ordinance in July. The centres provide an additional sentencing option to the courts for dealing with young offenders aged between 14 and 20, and in need of a short-term residential rehabilitation programme. The programme consists of two phases with a total period of detention ranging from three to nine months. The first phase of the programme provides two to five months' training in a correctional institution. It focuses on discipline training with the aim of helping the young offenders learn to exercise better self-control and develop a regular living pattern through half-day basic work skills training and half-day educational/counselling programmes. During the second phase of the programme, young offenders will be accommodated in an institution with a halfway house setting for a period of one to four months. They may go out for work, attend vocational training and educational courses, and participate in community service programmes. Discharged young offenders are subject to a statutory period of supervision of one year.

Education

Inmates aged under 21 are required to attend educational classes conducted by qualified teachers. For education classes, textbooks approved by the Education