ENG-2008 — Page 397

Public Order | 325

In 2008, the CSD managed 23 correctional institutions, three halfway houses, four rehabilitation centres, two custodial wards in public hospitals and one immigration centre for the Immigration Department. In all, 6 509 staff were looking after a daily average of 10 556 inmates, 325 detainees and 2 816 people under supervision after discharge.

Offenders sentenced to imprisonment are assigned to institutions according to their gender, age and security ratings. 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 placed in a drug addiction treatment centre.

All inmates receive proper care. Their diet follows approved scales of nutritional values with regard to their health and religious requirements. All adult inmates, unless certified physically unfit, are required to work six days a week. They are assigned to different work posts according to their fitness and security ratings, personal background and balance of sentence. They receive payments for their work, which may be used for buying approved personal items. They can watch television and have access to newspapers and library books. They may send and receive letters, receive visits and participate in religious services.

Penal Institutions

CSD manages 12 prisons for adult males, consisting of three maximum, four medium and five minimum security institutions. Adult female prisoners are accommodated in four prisons. For young male offenders, the department operates one maximum security institution, one training centre and one detention centre. A training centre section is provided in Lai King Correctional Institution, a multi- function institution for young females. Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre and its Annexe accommodate male and female drug addicts respectively. Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre is a maximum security prison which houses separately male and female prisoners of all categories and detainees who require psychiatric observation, treatment or assessment. Five of the institutions cater for remanded males and females of different age groups. Facilities in a penal institution normally include dormitories, kitchens, dining rooms, laundries, workshops, areas for exercise and recreation, a library and a hospital.

CSD operates three halfway houses to help inmates, released under supervision, to reintegrate into society. The residents may go out to work or attend school during daytime.

Penal Population

The penal population was large in 2008. Overcrowding occurred mostly in prisons accommodating female adults. The average number of women in prison in 2008 was 2 103 and they occupied 104 per cent of total prison living space. Despite the overcrowding situation, the department continued to implement its correctional programmes effectively.