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Public Order

Correctional Services Department

The Correctional Services Department (CSD) runs a comprehensive range of programmes for adult and young persons in custody under two broad headings: prison management and rehabilitation of offenders.

As at 31 December, the department was managing 29 correctional facilities of different security grading, with 6,601 staff looking after 8,423 persons in custody and 1,723 people under supervision after discharge. Offenders sentenced to imprisonment are assigned to correctional institutions according to their gender, age and security ratings. Separate institutions are provided for male and female adult and young persons in custody. Young offenders aged between 14 and 20 may be admitted to a training centre or rehabilitation centre. Males aged between 14 and 24 may undergo a detention centre programme. Drug addicts found guilty of an offence punishable by imprisonment may be placed in a drug addiction treatment centre.

All persons in custody receive proper care. Their diets follow approved scales of nutritional values with regard to their health, religious and dietary requirements. All convicted adults, unless certified physically unfit, are required to work six days a week. They are assigned to different work posts according to their fitness and security ratings, personal experience and balance of sentence. They receive earnings, which may be used to buy approved articles and canteen items, as an incentive to acquire good working habits and vocational skills. They can watch television and read newspapers and library books. They may send and receive letters, receive visits and take part in religious services.

Correctional Facilities

Among the 29 correctional facilities, nine are for adult male offenders and two are for adult female offenders. Young males aged between 14 and 24 are housed in two correctional institutions, one detention centre, one training centre and two rehabilitation centres, while young females aged between 14 and 20 are accommodated at one correctional institution and two rehabilitation centres. Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre, Lai Sun Correctional Institution, Nei Kwu Correctional Institution and part of Lai King Correctional Institution accommodate convicted drug addicts. Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre separately houses males and females in custody of all categories who require psychiatric observation, treatment or assessment. Seven of the correctional facilities cater for remanded people of different age groups. Each correctional facility typically has dormitories, a kitchen, dining rooms, a laundry, workshops, areas for exercise and recreation, a library and a hospital.

The facilities also include two custodial wards in public hospitals for persons in custody who need special medical care or surgery. Three halfway houses help those released under supervision reintegrate into society. Their residents may go out to work or attend school during daytime.

Penal Population

in 2017, 10,192 adults (7,118 men and 3,074 women) were sentenced to imprisonment, 5,681 adults (4,309 men and 1,372 women) were remanded, 175 young offenders (130 males and 45 females) were sentenced to imprisonment, and 218 young persons (196 males and

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