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Public Order

Young Offender Assessment Panel

The panel comprises representatives from the CSD and Social Welfare Department. It 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 2016, the courts referred 103 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 need a short-term residential rehabilitation programme. Those released from rehabilitation centres are subject to one-year statutory supervision.

Education

Offenders under 21 are encouraged to take part in both local and overseas accredited public examinations. Adults in custody are encouraged to take self-study courses or tertiary-level distance learning programmes offered by external accredited educational organisations. Those pursuing further studies may apply for financial help from the Prisoners' Education Trust Fund and other education subsidy schemes.

Vocational Training

The CSD helps offenders reintegrate into society as law-abiding citizens. Those under 21 may undergo half-day vocational training programmes to acquire job skills, obtain accreditation and develop work habits, while eligible adult offenders' can take pre-release vocational courses. Eighteen correctional facilities offered full-time and part-time courses in 2016.

Correctional Services Industries

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

In 2016, a daily average of 4,414 persons in custody were engaged in productive work, providing government departments and subvented bodies with a wide range of goods and

1 'Eligible adult offender' means an adult offender who is allowed to be employed or work and is not subject to any

condition of stay in Hong Kong after discharge.

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