ENG-2005 — Page 412

358 Public Order

schemes aim at enabling suitable, eligible and motivated prisoners to serve their sentences in an open environment with supervision.

The Post-release Supervision Scheme provides after-care supervision for certain categories of adult prisoners to facilitate their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Prisoners with indeterminate sentences may, before the Long-term Prison Sentences Review Board makes recommendations as to whether their indeterminate sentences should be converted to determinate ones, be conditionally released under supervision for a specific period to test their determination and ability to lead a law- abiding life. Prisoners whose indeterminate sentences have been converted to determinate ones may also be ordered by the board to be placed under post-release supervision.

In 2005, 2 897 offenders were discharged under supervision. Together with those discharged in previous years and those yet to complete their supervision period, a total of 2 889 persons (2 596 males and 293 females) were under the CSD's supervision at the end of the year.

Success rates of the after-care programmes are measured by the percentage of supervisees completing supervision without reconviction or remaining drug-free if they are drug addiction treatment centre inmates. In 2005, the success rates were 96 per cent for detention centre inmates; 67 per cent for male training centre inmates; 83 per cent for female training centre inmates; 85 per cent for young male prisoners; 91 per cent for young female prisoners; 59 per cent for male drug addiction treatment centre inmates; 64 per cent for female drug addiction treatment centre inmates; 96 per cent for male rehabilitation centre inmates; 90 per cent for female rehabilitation centre inmates; 100 per cent for the Release Under Supervision Scheme; 100 per cent for the Pre-release Employment Scheme; 88 per cent for the Post-release Supervision Scheme and 100 per cent for those prisoners discharged under supervision after a release order.

Services Provided by Non-governmental Organisations

Non-governmental organisations such as the Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention, Hong Kong, Buddha's Light International Association of Hong Kong, Caritas Lok Heep Club, Hong Kong Christian Kun Sun Association, Christian Prison Pastoral Fellowship, Save the Children Hong Kong and Wu Oi Christian Centre provide services to help offenders and discharged inmates reintegrate into the community. Their services include case work, counselling, the provision of hostel accommodation, employment assistance, recreational activities and care of children whose parents are in custody.

Community Support

Community acceptance and support is of paramount importance to the rehabilitation of offenders and their reintegration into society. The Committee on Community Support for Rehabilitated Offenders, which consists of members of non- governmental organisations, government departments and professionals from various sectors of society, advises the Commissioner of Correctional Services on rehabilitation programmes and publicity strategies.