ENG-2018 — Page 319

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Public Order

In 2018, the unit recommended 216 males and 22 females for admission to a rehabilitation centre, a training centre or a detention centre, and 550 males and 151 females as suitable for a drug addiction treatment centre. The panel received 50 cases from the courts for assessment.

Training, Detention and Rehabilitation Centres

The two 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.

At the detention centre in Sha Tsui, males aged between 14 and 20 go through one to six months of detention, and males aged between 21 and 24, three to 12 months. Its programmes emphasise strict discipline, strenuous training, hard work and a vigorous routine. After release, they are placed under one-year statutory supervision.

The rehabilitation centres provide a sentencing option for the courts to deal with young offenders aged between 14 and 20 who need a short-term residential rehabilitation programme. Those released are put through one-year statutory supervision.

Education

Offenders under 21 receive education and assistance to sit local and overseas accredited public examinations. Adults are encouraged to take self-study courses or tertiary-level distance learning programmes offered by accredited institutions. 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. Seventeen correctional facilities offered full-time and part-time courses in 2018.

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 2018, a daily average of 4,392 persons in custody were engaged in productive work, providing government departments and subvented bodies with goods and services that covered office furniture, uniforms, leather products, hospital linen, filter masks, fibreglass products, traffic signs, precast concrete products, metal products, laundry services, book binding, printing work, file jackets and envelopes. Precast concrete and signage products for

'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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