ENG-2004 — Page 431

Public Order | 369

Public Liaison Group

The Public Liaison Group was set up to encourage public participation in monitoring and improving the delivery of emergency fire and ambulance services. Thirty members of the public from all walks of life were randomly selected from among 96 applicants to form the group's tenth-term membership during the year.

Correctional Services

The Correctional Services Department (CSD) runs a comprehensive range of services for adults and young offenders, drug addicts and offenders with psychiatric problems. The services fall broadly under two programme areas: prison management and reintegration of offenders into society.

In 2004, the CSD managed 24 correctional institutions, four rehabilitation centres, three halfway houses and two custodial wards in public hospitals. It also runs. an extensive community-based after-care service. In all, 6 648 staff were looking after a daily average of 13 005 inmates, 133 detainees and 2 927 persons under supervision after discharge from custody.

Offenders sentenced to imprisonment are assigned to institutions according to their gender, age and security rating. The last factor takes into account, among other things, the risk they pose to the community and whether they are first-time offenders. Basically, separate institutions are provided for males and females, and for adults and young offenders. Male and female young offenders aged between 14 and 20 may be admitted to a training centre or a rehabilitation centre. A detention centre programme is available for male offenders aged between 14 and 24. Drug addicts. found guilty of an offence punishable by imprisonment may be sentenced to a drug addiction treatment centre. Separate sections are available for young addicts aged between 14 and 20. Offenders requiring psychiatric treatment will be accommodated in Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre.

Inmates are properly cared for in their daily living. The diet for inmates follows approved scales of nutritional values and has regard to health and religious requirements. All adult inmates, unless certified physically unfit by a medical officer, are required by law to work six days a week. They are assigned to different work posts according to factors such as their fitness and security ratings, personal background and balance of sentence. They receive earnings for the work done and may use their earnings to buy approved personal items twice a month. Television, newspapers and library books are available to inmates. They may send out and receive an unrestricted number of letters, receive regular visits and participate in the religious services available. Compulsory education and vocational programmes are provided for inmates aged under 21 whereas voluntary programmes are provided for adults. Voluntary organisations may visit inmates who are not visited by their families.

Prisoners released under the Pre-release Employment Scheme, offenders released under supervision from training centres, detention centre, rehabilitation centres and drug addiction treatment centres, and those having special needs may be accommodated in halfway houses for varying lengths of time. Thereafter, they are