persons in custody, a variety of Inmate-Parent Programmes are also introduced.
Psychological services are also offered to address staff's psychological health and needs. A healthy and balanced lifestyle has been actively promoted since early 2010.
Education: Half-day compulsory education in general and practical subjects is provided for young persons in custody. The programmes enable them to improve their academic standards which help their future re-integration. They are encouraged to study for local and international public examinations. Tutorial groups and hobby classes conducted by volunteer tutors are also run in adult institutions, where persons in custody can enrol voluntarily. Persons in custody are also encouraged to participate in self-study courses or distance learning for tertiary education by making use of the resources and expertise of external accredited educational organisations.
Community Engagement: CSD reaches out to the community to seek public's engagement for offender rehabilitation. Among other partners, the Committee on Community Support for Rehabilitated Offenders, composed of leaders and professionals from different walks of life, advises on rehabilitation strategies notably publicity programmes.
CSD Rehabilitation Volunteer Group (CSDRVG) organises activities to supplement services in meeting the needs of persons in custody. With more than 100 active volunteers, the Group conducted language courses, computer studies, cultural pursuits, etc., for persons in custody in various correctional institutions during the year.
Publicity activities have been ongoing since 1999, constituting a bridge between persons in custody and society. Through such activities as TV and Radio Announcements in the Public Interest, TV variety shows, TV documentary-drama series entitled "Knowing More About Hong Kong Correctional Services", "The Road Back I-V", Symposium on Employment for Rehabilitated Persons, certificate presentation ceremonies for persons in custody, NGO Forum, Thank you NGO week, joint community involvement activities with the District Fight Crime Committees, appointment of Rehabilitation Ambassador, and Award Presentation Ceremony for Volunteers of CSDRVG held over the years, the importance of collaborative efforts made by members of the community and NGOs to accept and help persons in custody rehabilitate is highlighted.
Rehabilitation Pioneer Project (RPP): The RPP covers a series of educational talks, visits, extended training camps and forums for youth. The talks provide basic information on Hong Kong's criminal justice system and CSD's custodial and rehabilitative services. The Personal Encounter with Prisoners Scheme complements other crime fighting tools, as young students visit correctional institutions and meet with persons in custody to share experiences and cautionary lessons. The Green Haven Scheme promotes anti-drug messages and the importance of environmental protection among young people. Participants meet with young persons in custody at addiction treatment centres on Hei Ling Chau, gaining insight into the detrimental effects of drug abuse. Visits to Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum foster participants' understanding of the development of correctional services, particularly the importance of public support for offender rehabilitation. The extended training camps for local secondary school students who have participated in RPP previously, aim to reinforce the messages of leading law-abiding and drug-free life as well as supporting offender rehabilitation through compact training programmes. The Student Forum is another crime prevention initiative under which rehabilitated offenders are arranged to address students and elaborate on the consequences of crime.
Religious Services: A full-time Chaplain co-ordinates the planning and provision of religious services. He is assisted by a number of volunteer Chaplains who visit and conduct services for persons in custody. Many volunteers and non-government organisations also provide a wide range of spiritual and social services in institutions.
Medical & Health Care in Institutions: All institutions have in-house hospitals and are staffed by qualified personnel. In collaboration with the Department of Health, round-the-clock basis primary health care are provided in all institutions. Persons in custody who need further treatment and investigations are referred to visiting specialists or public hospital for follow up.
Visiting Justices: Each institution is visited by two Justices of the Peace once every fortnight or monthly depending on its type. The Justices of the Peace carry out certain statutory duties such as investigating complaints made to them by persons in custody, inspecting diets and examining buildings and accommodation facilities. Visits are made at times and on days of their own choice within a prescribed period without prior notice.
Staff Training: The Staff Training Institute is responsible for planning and implementing training programmes to equip staff with relevant knowledge to fulfill the Vision, Mission and Values of the Department.
Newly-recruited Officers and Assistant Officers have to undergo 26-week and 23-week basic training respectively including field placement at correctional institutions. Development training courses such as refresher courses, specialist training courses and command courses are regularly conducted at the institute to foster staff's personal effectiveness and help their career development. Scenario training and situational analysis are emphasised in staff training.
To promote self-enhancement and life-long learning culture, CSD provides a wide variety of self-learning resources. A Knowledge Management System (KMS) has been established to strengthen e-learning since 2010.
Caring for all: Apart from performing their daily duties, staff of the CSD is encouraged to participate in various benevolent activities to extend their spirit of care to the community. These include deploying volunteers to help organisations for fund-raising activities, advising non-government organisations that provide services to rehabilitated offenders, etc.
In recognition of the department's continuing and total commitment in caring for the well-being of staff and their families, as well as the community as a whole, CSD was awarded the "5 Years Plus Caring Organisation Logo" since the year 2010/11 by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and was presented with the renowned "Total Caring Award" in the year 2007/08.
| Published by the Information Services Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government GovHK Website: http://www.gov.hk Information contained in this publication may be freely used. No acknowledgement is necessary. |
Correctional Services Department Home Page address: http://www.csd.gov.hk |
March 2015 |
