ENG-2009 — Page 402

330 Public Order

Penal Population

The penal population in 2009 decreased slightly compared with 2008. While overcrowding still existed in some institutions, the average occupancy rate of all penal institutions was 93 per cent.

During the year, 14 346 adults, comprising 9 520 men and 4 826 women, were sentenced to prison and 7 902 adults (6 005 men and 1 897 women) on remand were taken into custody. The number of young offenders sentenced to imprisonment totalled 613, comprising 388 males and 225 females, and 776 young people on remand (644 males and 132 females) were taken into custody. In addition, 643 young offenders (563 males and 80 females) were sentenced to detention in training centres, rehabilitation centres or the detention centre, and 1 572 offenders (1 252 males and 320 females) were placed in drug addiction treatment centres; while 3 571 offenders (2 996 males and 575 females) were remanded pending reports on their suitability for sentencing to one of these centres.

CSD has been looking for opportunities to improve penal facilities, update ageing institutions and relieve the overcrowding problem in some institutions. For example, the department plans to redevelop the institutions at Chi Ma Wan. Furthermore, redevelopment of the Lo Wu Correctional Complex will be completed in mid-2010 and the new institution will provide 1 400 penal places.

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.

In 2009, the Rehabilitation Unit prepared a total of 5 132 suitability reports for the courts, and recommended 1 229 males and 204 females suitable for admission to a rehabilitation centre, a training centre or detention centre, and 1 546 males and 405 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 six months to three years, which includes half-day educational classes and half-day vocational training. They also receive character development training in the form of scouting, guiding or outward bound training. Upon release, these young offenders must have suitable employment, education or vocational training and are subject to statutory supervision lasting three years.