ENG-2006 — Page 402

334 | Public Order

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remand were taken into custody. The number of young offenders sentenced to imprisonment totalled 1 211, comprising 384 males and 827 females, and 691 young people on remand 519 males and 172 females were taken into custody. In addition, 704 young offenders 639 males and 65 females - were sentenced to detention in training centres, rehabilitation centres or the detention centre, and 1 398 offenders 1 203 males and 195 females were placed in drug addiction treatment centres; while 3 340 offenders - 2 904 males and 436 females were remanded pending reports on their suitability for sentencing to one of these centres.

Assessment Services

Young people 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 men aged between 21 and 24 may be similarly remanded for admission to the detention centre.

The CSD runs the Rehabilitation Unit (Assessment), which makes recommendations to the courts on the suitability of offenders for detention at one of the four types of inmate centres mentioned above. The assessment officers investigate all cases referred by the courts, and prepare suitability reports for them. In 2006, a total of 4 633 suitability reports were prepared, and assessment officers found 1 225 males and 172 females suitable for admission to a rehabilitation centre, a training centre or detention centre, and 1 670 males and 248 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.

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, Outward Bound training, and so on. On Sundays and public holidays, they are taken on visits to youth centres, sports centres and country parks. Young offenders, about to be discharged, are given the opportunity to help provide social services to the elderly and, the mentally and physically handicapped. Upon release, inmates must have suitable employment, education or vocational training and are subject to a statutory period of supervision lasting three years.

The detention centre programme is carried out at 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. The detention periods for young males and young adults are one