ENG-2019 — Page 312

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Public Order

females) were remanded. In addition, 85 offenders (81 males and four females) were sentenced to detention in training centres, rehabilitation centres or the detention centre in Sha Tsui, 361 offenders (278 males and 83 females) were placed in drug addiction treatment centres, and 820 offenders (697 males and 123 females) were remanded pending suitability reports for sentencing to one of these centres.

Pre-sentence Assessment

Young offenders and offenders with drug addiction problems who are sentenced to imprisonment may be remanded in custody for up to three weeks to assess their suitability for admission to which type of correctional facility. The Rehabilitation Unit under the CSD prepares suitability reports for the courts, while the Young Offender Assessment Panel, comprising CSD and Social Welfare Department representatives, considers cases referred by the courts and recommends to magistrates and judges the most suitable rehabilitation programmes for young offenders.

In 2019, the unit recommended 196 males and 17 females for admission to a rehabilitation, training or detention centre, and 365 males and 109 females as suitable for a drug addiction treatment centre. The panel received 44 cases from the courts for assessment.

Training, Detention and Rehabilitation Centres

The two training centres provide young persons in custody with correctional training for 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 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, a hard-working attitude and counselling. 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 focused on reformation. Those released are put through one-year statutory supervision.

Drug Addiction Treatment

Convicted drug addicts undergo a compulsory treatment programme as an alternative to imprisonment. Young addicts aged between 14 and 20 are accommodated separately from the adults. They receive two to 12 months of on-site treatment followed by one year of statutory supervision.

Health Care

All correctional institutions have on-site hospitals with qualified personnel stationed to provide basic health care. Persons in custody who need specialist treatment are referred to visiting specialists or public hospitals.

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