ENG-2012 — Page 346

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Public Order

(510 males and 86 females) were taken into custody. In addition, 372 young offenders (339 males and 33 females) were sentenced to detention in training centres, rehabilitation centres or the detention centre, and 1,231 offenders (969 males and 262 females) were placed in drug addiction treatment centres; while 2,414 offenders (2,080 males and 334 females) were remanded pending reports on their suitability for sentencing to one of these centres.

Most of the correctional facilities are not purpose-built and have been in operation for decades. These aging and outdated facilities do not meet the current requirements of penal management. In 2012, work was completed on the former Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institution to provide around 400 additional penal places and a project started at Tai Lam Centre for Women to provide around 100 additional penal places and enhance the facilities. The department will continue to explore other possible redevelopment projects and improvement works.

Assessment Services

Young offenders and offenders with drug addiction problems 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 various types of correctional facilities. They include a training centre, rehabilitation centre, detention centre or drug addiction treatment centre for young people aged between 14 and 20; a detention centre for young men aged between 21 and 24 and a drug addiction treatment centre for offenders aged 21 or above with drug addiction problems.

In 2012, the Rehabilitation Unit prepared a total of 3,632 suitability reports for the courts, and recommended 706 males and 87 females suitable for admission to a rehabilitation centre, training centre or detention centre, and 1,274 males and 360 females suitable for a drug addiction treatment centre.

Young Offender Assessment Panel

The Young Offender Assessment Panel (YOAP), comprising representatives from the CSD and the Social Welfare Department, makes recommendations to magistrates and judges on the most appropriate rehabilitation programmes for remanded males aged between 14 and 24 and females aged 14 to 20. In 2012, 179 cases were referred to the YOAP by the courts for

assessment.

Training Centres, Detention Centre and Rehabilitation Centres

Training centres provide correctional training for young offenders for periods ranging from six months to three years, comprising 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 take up suitable employment, education or vocational training and are subject to three-year statutory supervision.

A detention centre programme is in place 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

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