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Community-based Rehabilitation of Juvenile Delinquents
Institutional Rehabilitation of Children & Young Persons
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| MCYS has in place a range of community-based rehabilitative programmes for the rehabilitation of children and youth at risk of delinquency as well as children and youth who have committed offences. |
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| Guidance Programme |
The Guidance Programme is a pre-Court diversionary programme for first-time juvenile offenders who have committed minor offences such as shoplifting. These juveniles would be let off with a police caution instead of being charged in Court for the offences committed. The Guidance Programme was launched in October 1997 and is administered by MCYS. This unique initiative steers the juvenile away from the Court system, recognising the viability of providing an alternative opportunity for the juvenile to make amends and resolve against re-offending in the future.
The Guidance Programme is a voluntary six-month programme that focuses on counselling and rehabilitation with the active involvement of parents. It includes counselling sessions for the juvenile and his / her parents, groupwork, visits to the juvenile's home, family camps and community service. It aims to help the juvenile develop better self-control, take responsibility for his / her actions and acquire lifeskills. If the juvenile completes the Guidance Programme successfully, he / she will not be charged by the Police.
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Court-Ordered Options for Offenders
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| Community Service Order |
The Community Service Order aims to broaden the juveniles' perspectives and help them gain meaningful social experiences, develop social skills in relating with other people, and develop a sense of purpose in life.
Under a Community Service Order, the Court can require an offender aged 14 years and above to perform unpaid community service for a minimum of 40 hours and up to a maximum of 240 hours. The Community Service Order Scheme was implemented n December 1996 to allow the Courts to order community service as a condition of Probation. Now, the Community Service Order can be ordered as a stand-alone option.
Besides fostering social responsibility, it is hoped that through community service to the less fortunate, the young offenders can provide tangible benefits to the community. Community service tasks include caring for and befriending the elderly and the disabled, general maintenance and repair works in welfare facilities and hospitals, and organising fund-raising and social activities for the disadvantaged. An offender may also be assigned value-added community service as part of a work development programme which enhances the offender's employability.
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| Weekend Detention Order |
| Weekend Detention is one of the options available to the Juvenile Court when dealing with an offender below 16 years of age. Under the Weekend Detention Order, the juvenile offender will be required to report to a place of detention during the weekends, for a period not exceeding 52 weekends. |
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report to the place of detention by 3.00pm on Saturday and be discharged by 5.00pm the next day (Sunday); and |
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undergo a series of exercise drills, supervised study and groupwork to equip them with relevant skills. |
| The Court may impose the Weekend Detention Order as the only order, or may impose the Weekend Detention Order together with a Probation Order. |
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| Detention Order |
| Under a Detention Order, an offender below 16 years of age can be required to: |
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reside in a place of detention for a period, not exceeding three months; and |
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undergo a series of exercise drills and groupwork to equip him / her with relevant skills while in detention. |
The Juvenile Court could impose that the juvenile undergo a Detention Order before a Probation Order. In these cases, the youth offender will serve the Detention Order before serving the
Probation Order.
If a youth offender is placed on probation initially but later shows poor progress, the Court can add on a Detention Order. In this case, he / she will be sent to a Detention Centre and upon discharge from the Centre, continue with the remaining duration of his / her probation. |
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| Periodic Training Order |
| The Court can impose a Periodic Training Order as a condition of
Probation. It is targeted at probationers who are not in school and are unemployed. Under the Periodic Training Order, a probationer is required to report to a social service agency for a fixed number of hours to receive training in social skills and guidance in educational / vocational development or work preparation. |
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| Probation Order |
Probation is a key community-based rehabilitation programme. It provides the Court with an alternative order option when dealing with juvenile offenders who may otherwise be sent to penal (e.g. Young Persons Section of Prison) or corrective institutions (e.g. MCYS Homes).
When the Court places a juvenile offender on probation, it means that he / she will be placed under the supervision of a Probation Officer under Section 5(1) of the Probation Of Offenders Act, Cap 252. The probation period can last between six months to three years. During this period, the probationer can continue with most of his / her day-to-day activities such as school, work, and National Service etc. but is required to comply with certain conditions as stipulated by the Court.
MCYS Probation Officers will supervise and support the probationers through their Probation Order. The Probation Officer will help the probationers work through the problems that led to the offence. During the period of probation, the offender is required to report regularly to his Probation Officer, comply with the conditions of his / her Probation Order (such as time restrictions) and participate in the programmes formulated for him / her. Parental involvement, in the form of participation in parenting talks, workshops and parent-child interaction programmes, is a key component of the rehabilitation programme.
The Probation Officer will also gather feedback on the probationer's progress by regularly discussing with the probationer's parents, school or his / her employer before updating the Court. If a probationer does not follow the conditions of his / her Probation Order, he / she may be given a verbal or written warning by the Probation Officer or taken to Court. Breaching of the Probation Order is serious. The Court could either give a warning, amend the Probation Order or cancel the Probation Order and sentence the probationer for the offence for which he / she was placed on probation.
The Court can impose additional conditions of probation such as the Community Service Order, the Weekend Detention Order, the Detention Order and the
Periodic Training Order.
Service standards in probation for juvenile offenders are set out in the National Standards for The Probation of Offenders and Their Rehabilitation in the Community. |
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| Probation Programmes |
As a community-based order, probation focuses on three strategies to develop the growth of probationers:
(a) Individual case work
(b) Group work; and
(c) Educational, recreational and social activities. |
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| Probation Core Programmes |
| Certain programmes are considered essential and beneficial for the probationer and his / her parents and all parties will be required to attend these programmes. |
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| Probation Elective Programmes |
The "Probation Elective Programmes" are considered essential or beneficial for certain categories of probationers (based on the nature of the crime, coping skills and needs). They will be selected to undergo the selected programme(s) at appropriate stages of their probation.
Probation Elective Programmes include Life or Social Skills training, Anti Drug Programme, Anti Secret Society Talk by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and Healthy Lifestyle. |
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| Community Probation Service |
Started in June 1971, the Community Probation Service seeks to promote volunteer participation and community awareness in the rehabilitation of offenders under MCYS' purview. Volunteer Probation Officers are recruited under the Community Probation Service to augment the efforts of MCYS in the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
Volunteers go through a structured in-house training programme and sponsored training by external agencies to equip them with skills in working with offenders and their families. Their volunteer involvement includes befriending, counselling, case supervision as well as organising and conducting activities and programmes for parents and probationers. |
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| Networking with Various Community Partners |
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Probation staff with Juvenile Justice Teams in Western Australia |
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Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS)
- skills based programme leading to certification by MDIS |
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Schools |
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Volunteer Probation Officers-celebrating 30 years of the Community Probation Service Scheme (Oct 2001) |
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While the preferred modality of rehabilitation for children and young persons is community-based progammes, there are cases in which the behaviour and circumstances of these persons render community-based options inappropriate or unsuitable. MCYS also has in place rehabilitative programmes for this group of children and young persons who are at risk or have gotton into trouble with the law to help and develop them in all aspects possible so that they can return to society as socially responsible persons.
We adopt a graduated approach in rehabilitating and reintegrating these juveniles. A juvenile who is first admitted to the Homes will be provided with rehabilitative services in the Homes. When the juvenile has made good progress, he will be placed on the Aftercare Service for community supervision. |
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| Principles of Rehabilitation |
Several key principles guide MCYS' rehabilitative approach and programmes in the Homes and Aftercare Service. Firstly, we believe in maximising every resident's potential for rehabilitation. The rehabilitation programmes are tailored to meet the needs and address the problems of each resident. Individual care plans are formulated and implemented with the objectives of helping them develop a sense of personal discipline, social responsibility and the life skills necessary to cope with the challenges of society.
Secondly, we recognise the important role of the family. Besides being a basic building block of society, the family is also one of the most important change agents for children and young persons. In rehabilitative work with residents, we aim to preserve, strengthen and tap on the potential of the family where possible to effect positive changes in them. We believe that through the involvement of the family, the rehabilitation process will reap greater success.
Thirdly, MCYS believes in providing a safe, secure and supportive environment for the rehabilitation of residents in the Homes. Security is emphasized in the Homes to ensure a safe environment for staff and residents. As part of the rehabilitation process, residents are expected to comply with the rules of the Homes and acquire self-discipline. The Homes also adhere to minimum standards and ensure that residents have access to decent living conditions, food, basic medical care and other services. MCYS provides a supportive and responsive social climate in the Homes to facilitate the rehabilitation of the residents. The rules, rewards and punishment system are made known to all residents. The regime recognises good behaviour and progress made by residents and incentives are given to support desirable behaviour.
MCYS believes in working in partnership with the community in the rehabilitation of juveniles in the Homes and on Aftercare Service. Community support and involvement are important to the reintegration of the juveniles into society. MCYS works actively with community partners such as volunteers, voluntary welfare organisations, schools, and employers etc. to develop a network of services to supplement our rehabilitation programme. |
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| MCYS also appoints members of the community to various committees that play a role in our institutional rehabilitation work including: |
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The Board of Visitors |
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which ensures that the MCYS Juvenile Homes provide a safe and supportive environment and that rehabilitative programmes are in place; |
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The Advisory Board / Discharge Committee |
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which reviews the progress of the residents in the Homes and decides on the release of residents back into the community and placement on the Aftercare Service |
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The MCYS Juvenile Homes-Community Link |
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which promotes greater involvement of the community in our rehabilitative and reintegrative programmes |
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| MCYS Juvenile Homes : Restorative Rehabilitation |
| MCYS administers three homes for children and young persons : |
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The Singapore Boys' Home |
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Singapore Girls' Home (formerly known as the Toa Payoh Girls' Home) |
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The Singapore Boys' Hostel |
| MCYS Juvenile Homes adopt a multi-prong approach in rehabilitating, restoring and reintegrating these children and young persons back into their families and community. |
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| Aftercare Service : Re-offending Prevention and Reintegration |
| The Aftercare Service supervises residents who are released on licence from the juvenile homes after twelve months of good behaviour. Aftercare serves to reinforce positive values taught in the Homes so that the juveniles can adjust to living with their families and in the community again. It also helps the juveniles reintegrate socially by helping them look for employment or schools, and ironing out their differences with their families, all with a view to deter them from returning to their old ways. Programmes are provided for the juveniles and families to facilitate and support them. |
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| Rehabilitative Strategies |
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Classification and Assessment |
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For all juveniles sent to MCYS' Juvenile Homes, a classification and assessment tool is used to objectively and accurately identify their needs and risk factors. The tool facilitates timely and appropriate interventions through the formulation of an individual care plan for each resident. An inter-disciplinary team makes the assessments and works out the intervention plans. The classification and assessment system also facilitates decision-making on the physical placements into the different residential blocks within the institutions.
When necessary and feasible, family members are brought together with the juvenile for family conferencing. This is to help the boys and girls address their offending behaviour and to garner the support and commitment from the family to ensure successful rehabilitation of the residents.
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Therapeutic Programmes |
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Individual counselling and group therapy are provided to help residents of the Homes and those on Aftercare Service. The juveniles are also taught social competency skills. Parents are involved in the treatment programmes whenever appropriate, as they are important change agents for the child.
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The programmes are wide ranging and include: |
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Induction Programme
Growing up - Adolescence
Building Self Confidence
Effective Communication
Managing Emotions in a Positive Way
Improving Peer Relationships
Strengthening Family Relationships
Healthy Living and Staying Away from Drugs and Substance Abuse
Service Learning
Family Bonding Activities
Home Leave Preparation
Pre-Day Release Preparation
Pre-Discharge Programmes
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Parents also undergo counselling, workshops and seminars to help them manage and cope with their teenagers
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They participate in the following |
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Parents Orientation and Induction to the Home's Programmes
Family Bonding Activities
Parents Visits
Parenting Sessions
Home Leave Preparation
Pre-Day Release Preparation
Pre-Discharge Programmes
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Specialised Programmes |
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Specialised programmes are conducted to address specific needs of the residents.
Three specialised programmes are available to help rehabilitate residents of the institutions:
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Positive Adolescent Sexuality Treatment (PAST) |
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This is a comprehensive and specialised treatment programme for adolescent sex offenders who are placed on community-based rehabilitation and those who are residing in the Singapore Boys' Home.
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Special Needs Adolescent Programme (SNAP) |
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The objective of this programme is to equip intellectually disabled residents at The Singapore Boys' Home with adaptive problem-solving and coping skills in dealing with potentially challenging social situations within the residential facility as well as in the community.
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Responsible Adolescent Group (RAG) |
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This is an early intervention group programme targeted at residents of the Toa Payoh Girls' Home who are at risk of developing depression or anxiety problems, and aims to teach them effective emotional management skills. This programme could in future, also be open up to other teenage girls at risk who are known to MCYS.
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Educational, Vocational and Basic Life Skills Programme |
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Academic and vocational classes are provided for residents to equip them with knowledge and skills to better their lives when they leave the Homes. Residents who are eligible for emplacement in normal schools in the community after about six to nine months of stay. Those not eligible for school would be enrolled for vocational training in marketable skills. In addition, all the residents undergo a basic life skills programme which inlude cookery, domestic maintenance, repair and chores. |
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Moral and Religious Education |
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The ministry works closely with religious groups and volunteers to provide moral education and religious classes to reinforce desirable social values in the residents. |
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Sport, Games and the Arts |
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MCYS uses various channels, including physical training, sports and adventure learning in the rehabilitation process. Besides inculcating in the residents the value of leading a healthy lifestyle, these channels reinforce the values of teamwork and sportsmanship and help them to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses.
MCYS also provides opportunities for the residents to be exposed to the arts like music and dance. |
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Community Contact Programme |
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To help the residents reintegrate into society and gain the trust and confidence of the community, selected residents are given opportunities to contribute to society through community service at charity events or volunteer at the Red Cross Home and to St Joseph's Home.
Under our Community Contact Programme, we also give residents who have made good progress in their rehabilitation, opportunities to attend arts and cultural performances. |
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