200 Social Welfare
During 2009, 3 314 people aged 14 or above who were convicted of offences punishable by imprisonment were placed on Community Service Orders. They were required to perform unpaid community work arranged and supervised by SWD officers. The Tuen Mun Children and Juvenile Home, with 388 places, provides educational, pre-vocational and character training to juvenile offenders as well as children and young people with behavioural and/or family problems.
The Young Offender Assessment Panel, run jointly by the Correctional Services Department (CSD) and the SWD, provides the courts with professional views on sentencing options for offenders aged 14 to below 25. The Post-Release Supervision. of Prisoners Scheme, another joint service of the SWD and the CSD, assisted 380 discharged prisoners during their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community in 2009. The SWD provides funding to an NGO to offer hostel and supportive services to ex-offenders.
Services for Young People
The objective of welfare services for young people is to help those aged between 6 and 24 become mature, responsible and contributing members of society. A range of preventive, supportive and remedial services is provided by NGOs to achieve this goal.
Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres
At year-end, there were 136 Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres (ICYSCs). These centres provide centre-based services, outreach social work services. and school social work services to address the developmental needs of young people in an integrated and holistic manner. Under a modernisation programme jointly funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Lotteries Fund, a total of 82 ICYSCs were provided with funding to modernise their premises and acquire modern furniture and equipment more appropriate to the needs of young people.
Outreaching Services
Sixteen District Youth Outreaching Social Work Teams provide services to high- risk youths and deal with juvenile gang issues. Eighteen designated ICYSCs also provide overnight outreaching service to help young night drifters get back on the right track.
Services for Juvenile Delinquents
The Community Support Service Scheme (CSSS) assists young people who have broken the law, or are under the Police Superintendent's Discretion Scheme, to avoid breaking the law again. Six CSSS teams, one operated by the SWD and five by NGOs, provide services to these young people.
The Family Conference Scheme, jointly run by the SWD and the Hong Kong Police Force, assists juveniles cautioned under the Police Superintendent's Discretion Scheme for the second time or who are in need of the services of three or more parties. Social workers, police officers, teachers and the parents of these young people work together to decide which treatment is best for them.
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