ENG-2009 — Page 403

Public Order | 331

A detention centre programme is carried out at Sha Tsui Correctional Institution for young male offenders aged between 14 and 20 for a period between one and six months, and young male adults aged between 21 and 24 for a period between three and 12 months. It emphasises strict discipline, strenuous training, hard work and a vigorous routine. After release, the young offenders are placed under a one- year statutory supervision.

In operation since July 2002, the rehabilitation centres provide an additional sentencing option for the courts to deal with young offenders aged between 14 and 20 who are in need of a short-term residential rehabilitation programme.

Education

Young offenders under 21 are required to attend educational classes conducted by qualified teachers. They are encouraged to take part in both local and overseas public examinations.

Offenders seeking an education may obtain financial assistance from the Prisoners Education Trust Fund, New Life Foundation and Prisoners' Education Subsidy Fund, which are all set up with charitable donations.

Vocational Training

To help young offenders reintegrate smoothly into society as law-abiding citizens, the CSD provides half-day vocational training programmes for young offenders under 21 years of age to enable them to acquire job skills, obtain accreditation and develop work habits.

For local adult offenders wishing to participate in the programmes, the CSD provides them with pre-release vocational courses. Full-time courses are provided at Lai Sun Correctional Institution, Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution and Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institution. There are also part-time courses held in other institutions.

Correctional Services Industries

The CSD provides work for adult offenders as required by law to keep them gainfully employed and to help them develop good working habits, sense of responsibility and self-confidence. Through the training received at work, offenders can also cultivate work skills to facilitate their reintegration into society.

In 2009, a daily average of about 5 419 offenders were engaged in productive work, providing government departments and subvented bodies with a wide range of goods and services. These include office furniture, uniforms, leather goods, hospital linen, protective filter masks, fibreglass litter containers, traffic signs, pre- cast concrete products, laundry services for hospitals and clinics, book binding for public libraries, printing work, file jackets and envelopes. The market value of these goods and services, together with other domestic work and services provided for CSD, was $439 million in 2009.