ENG-2015 — Page 314

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Public Order

Penal Population

In 2015, 10,092 adults (6,897 men and 3,195 women) were sentenced to imprisonment, 5,878 adults (4,454 men and 1,424 women) on remand were taken into custody, 262 young offenders were sentenced to imprisonment (201 males and 61 females), and 415 young persons on remand (362 males and 53 females) were taken into custody. In addition, 220 offenders (199 males and 21 females) were sentenced to detention in training centres, rehabilitation centres or the detention centre, and 908 offenders (701 males and 207 females) were placed in drug addiction treatment centres, while 1,704 offenders (1,433 males and 271 females) were remanded pending reports on their suitability for sentencing to one of these centres.

Most of the correctional facilities are either aged or were originally built for other purposes. A partial redevelopment of Tai Lam Centre for Women to provide around 100 additional penal places and enhance its facilities is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. The department will continue to explore other possible redevelopment improvement projects.

Pre-sentence Assessment

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. In 2015, the Rehabilitation Unit prepared a total of 2,640 suitability reports for the courts, and recommended 393 males and 48 females as suitable for admission to a rehabilitation centre, training centre or detention centre, and 869 males and 270 females as suitable for a drug. addiction treatment centre.

Young Offender Assessment Panel

The panel, 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 2015, the courts referred 74 cases to the panel for assessment.

Training, Detention and Rehabilitation Centres

Training centres provide young people with custodial correctional training for between six months and three years, comprising half-day educational classes and half-day vocational training. They also receive character development training in the form of scouting and guiding. Upon release, they are subject to three-year statutory supervision.

The detention period for males aged between 14 and 20 undergoing detention centre programmes ranges from one to six months, and for male adults aged between 21 and 24, three to 12 months. It emphasises strict discipline, strenuous training, hard work and a vigorous routine. After release, they are placed under one-year statutory supervision.

Rehabilitation centres provide a sentencing option for the courts to deal with offenders aged between 14 and 20 who are in need of a short-term residential rehabilitation programme. Those released from rehabilitation centres are subject to one-year statutory supervision.

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