Correctional Services

The Correctional Services Department (CSD) runs a comprehensive range of services for adult and young offenders, drug addicts and offenders with psychiatric problems. The services fall broadly under two areas: prison management and rehabilitation of offenders.

In 2008, the CSD managed twenty-three correctional institutions, three halfway houses, four rehabilitation centres, one detention centre for immigration detainees and two custodial wards in public hospitals. It also runs extensive through care services. In all,
6 509 staff were looking after a daily average of 10 556 inmates, 325 detainees and 2 816 persons under supervision after discharge from custody.

Offenders sentenced to imprisonment are assigned to institutions according to their gender, age and security rating. The last factor takes into account, among other things, the risk they pose to the community and whether they are first-time offenders. Separate institutions are provided for males and females, and for adults and young offenders. Male and female young offenders aged between 14 and 20 may be admitted to a training centre or a rehabilitation centre. A detention centre programme is available for male offenders aged between 14 and 24. Drug addicts found guilty of an offence punishable by imprisonment may be sentenced to a drug addiction treatment centre. Separate sections are available for young addicts aged between 14 and 20. Offenders requiring psychiatric treatment will be accommodated in Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre.

Inmates are properly cared for in their daily living. The diet for inmates follows approved scales of nutritional values and has regard to health and religious requirements. All adult inmates, unless certified physically unfit by a medical officer, are required by law to work six days a week. They are assigned to different work posts according to factors such as their fitness and security ratings, personal background and balance of sentence. They receive earnings for the work done and may use their earnings to buy approved personal items twice a month. Television, newspapers and library books are available to inmates. They may send out and receive an unrestricted number of letters, receive regular visits and participate in the religious services available. Compulsory education and vocational programmes are provided for inmates aged under 21 whereas voluntary programmes are provided for adults. Voluntary organisations may visit inmates who are not visited by their families.

Prisoners released under the Pre-release Employment Scheme, offenders released under supervision from training centres, detention centre and drug addiction treatment centres, and those having special needs may be accommodated in halfway houses for varying lengths of time. Thereafter, they are permitted to live at home or in other places while they continue to receive after-care supervision.

Penal Institutions

The CSD manages twelve prisons for adult males, consisting of three maximum, four medium and five minimum security institutions. Adult female prisoners are accommodated in four prisons. For young offenders, the department operates two prisons (one maximum and one minimum security), one male training centre, two male rehabilitation centres and two female rehabilitation centres. A training centre section for young females is provided in Lai King Correctional Institution, a multi-function institution for females. There is also one detention centre for young males provided in Sha Tsui Correctional Institution, a multi-function institution for males.  For drug addicts, there is a drug addiction treatment centre, which provided treatment to male and female (at a separate annex) inmates. Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre is a maximum security prison which separately houses male and female prisoners of all categories (sentenced or on remand) and detainees who require psychiatric observation, treatment or assessment. Of all these institutions, five cater for remanded males and females of different age groups. Facilities in a penal institution normally include dormitories, kitchens, dining rooms, laundries, workshops, exercising and recreational areas, library and hospital.

The Lo Wu Correctional Institution redevelopment project commenced in 2007 and is expecting to be completed in early 2010. The new institution can accommodate 1 400 inmates.

An extension block is added to Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre with 144 additional penal places to alleviate overcrowding of remand facilities for adult males.

Lai Sun Correctional Institution was completely overhauled into a vocational training centre for male adult prisoners, equipping them with skills conducive to their rehabilitation.

Three halfway houses operated by the CSD provide group counselling sessions and other activities for inmates to assist their reintegration into society.

Penal Population

The penal population was large in 2008. Overcrowding occurred mostly in prisons accommodating female adults. The average number of women in prison in 2008 was 2 103 and they occupied 104 per cent of total prison living space. Despite the overcrowding situation, the department continued to implement its correctional programmes effectively.

During the year, 15 133 adult offenders, comprising 9 880 men and 5 253 women, were sentenced to prison and 8 231 adults (6 278 men and 1 953 women) on remand were taken into custody. The number of young offenders sentenced to imprisonment totalled 684, comprising 370 males and 314 females, and 780 young people on remand (642 males and 138 females) were taken into custody. In addition, 841 young offenders (761 males and 80 females) were sentenced to detention in training centres, rehabilitation centres or the detention centre, and 1 316 offenders (1 080 males and 236 females) were placed in drug addiction treatment centres; while 3 672 offenders (3 155 males and 517 females) were remanded pending reports on their suitability for sentencing to one of these centres.

Certain categories of inmates have to undergo different periods of statutory supervision. They are inmates discharged from training centres, detention centre, rehabilitation centres and drug addiction treatment centres, discharged young prisoners subject to supervision under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, prisoners discharged under the Release under Supervision Scheme, Pre-release Employment Scheme and Post-release Supervision Scheme, as well as prisoners discharged under a conditional release order and a post-release supervision order. During the year, 2 646 offenders were discharged under supervision. They, together with those discharged in previous years and who had yet to complete their supervision period, amounted to 2 787 people  under the CSD's supervision at the end of 2008. During the year, 1 038 people were recalled for breach of supervision conditions.

Education

Inmates aged under 21 are required to attend educational classes conducted by qualified teachers. Textbooks approved by the Education Bureau and supplementary materials compiled by the Department are used as teaching materials for the educational classes. All inmates are encouraged to take part in both local and overseas public examinations organised by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority as well as other local and overseas authorities. Young inmates may attend formal classes up to certificate level and sit for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination as school candidates. Adult inmates may sit for the examination as private candidates. Inmates may obtain accreditation by way of public examinations held by the City and Guilds or the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Qualifications.

The Prisoners' Education Trust Fund, set up with charitable donations in 1995, provides financial assistance to prisoners in their educational pursuits, in the form of grants to cover course or examination fees, and expenses on reference books.

Industries and Vocational Training

Industries & Vocational Training (I&VT) Section provides both meaningful work and vocational training to adult prisoners. In 2008, a daily average of about 5 300 prisoners were engaged at various types of productive work. Goods and services provided in 2008 amounted to $441 million. Vocational training helps them to obtain vocational qualifications and skills recognitions through various lectures and examinations.

Prisoners' Programme and Welfare Services

Staff of Rehabilitation Unit look after the welfare of detainees and prisoners, and help them to deal with personal problems and difficulties arising from detention or imprisonment. Apart from conducting individual and group counselling sessions, staff of Rehabilitation Unit assist in the establishment and running of hobby groups. They also organise activities such as Pre-release Re-integration Orientation courses and meetings with family members of prisoners with the aim of helping inmates to reintegrate smoothly into society upon release and supplying them with information on community resources.

Drug Addiction Treatment

The CSD runs a compulsory treatment programme for convicted drug addicts which provides the courts with an alternative to imprisonment. Male inmates are accommodated at Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre and females at the Annex to Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre. Adult and young inmates are accommodated separately. An inmate undergoes in-centre treatment from two to 12 months, followed by one year's statutory after-care supervision. The programme is based on therapeutic treatment, discipline, work programmes, outdoor physical activities and comprehensive after-care service.

Medical Services

All institutions have their own hospitals providing basic medical treatment, health care to inmates. Those requiring dental services or specialist treatment are either referred to visiting specialists or to specialist clinics in public hospitals.

Ante-natal and post-natal care is provided in institutions for female inmates, but babies are normally delivered in public hospitals. Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre treats prisoners with mental health problems, and offers psychiatric consultations and assessments for inmates on referral from other institutions and the courts.

To guard against any infection within the penal institutions, the Department adopts strict preventive measures. Screening procedures are strictly followed and all newly admitted inmates have their body temperature checked as well as being placed under observation for a certain period.

Visiting Justices

Each penal institution is visited by Justices of the Peace fortnightly or monthly, depending on the type of institutions. The Justices of the Peace receive and investigate complaints from prisoners, inspect diets and examine living and working conditions.