ENG-2003 — Page 407

PUBLIC ORDER

or the detention centre, and 1 283 offenders (1 083 males and 200 females) to drug addiction treatment centres.

Certain categories of inmates have to undergo different periods of statutory supervision. They are inmates discharged from training centres, detention centre, rehabilitation centres and drug addiction treatment centres, discharged young prisoners subject to supervision under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, prisoners. discharged under the Release under Supervision Scheme, Pre-release Employment Scheme and Post-release Supervision Scheme, as well as prisoners discharged under a conditional release order or a post-release supervision order. During the year, 2 538 offenders were discharged under supervision. They, together with those discharged in previous years and who had yet to complete their supervision period, added up to a total of 2 907 persons (2 601 males and 306 females) under the CSD's supervision at the end of 2003. During the year, 668 persons (575 males and 93 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, rehabilitation centre, detention centre or drug addiction treatment centre. 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, rehabilitation centre or drug addiction treatment centre. The panel investigates all cases referred by the courts, and prepares suitability reports for them. In 2003, 5 455 offenders were remanded for suitability reports, and the panel found 1 459 males and 293 females suitable for admission to a rehabilitation centre, a training centre or detention centre, and 1459 males and 261 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 2003, the panel received a total of 390 referrals from judges and magistrates and 84 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. The parent-inmate centre at the Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution helps inmates to gain family support and to develop a better

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