Rehabilitation Programmes for Persons in Custody (PICs)

Besides providing a decent and healthy environment for persons in custody, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) aims to provide diversified and appropriate rehabilitation programmes for PICs, which help them rehabilitate and re-integrate into society.

Rehabilitation Programmes of CSD

Here are the rehabilitation programmes provided by CSD and the target recipients.

Pre-sentence Assessment

Before the offender is sentenced, he may be referred by the court to a pre-sentence assessment. He will be interviewed on whether he is suitable for one of the rehabilitation programmes. The Department will then advise the court the most appropriate treatment for the offender.

Target recipients include PICs of:

• Detention Centre
  The detention centre programme is carried out at Sha Tsui Correctional Institution for young male offenders aged between 14 and 20, and young male adults aged between 21 and 24. It emphasises strict discipline, strenuous training, hard work and a vigorous routine. After release, they are subject to a statutory supervision period of one year.
• Rehabilitation Centres
  Rehabilitation Centres provide training to deal with young offenders aged between 14 and 20, and in need of a short-term residential rehabilitation programme. The programme consists of two phases with a total period of detention ranging from 3 to 9 months. Discharged young offenders are subject to a statutory period of supervision of one year.
• Training Centres
  Training Centres provide correctional training for young offenders aged between 14 and 20 for training periods ranging from a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 3 years. They are provided with half-day educational classes and half-day vocational training as well as character development programmes. Upon release, young offenders must have suitable employment, education or vocational training and are subject to a statutory period of supervision of three years.
• Drug Addiction Treatment Centres
  Drug Addiction Treatment Centres provide compulsory treatment for drug addicts. A PIC undergoes in-centre treatment from 2 to 12 months, followed by one year’s statutory supervision. The programme is based on therapeutic treatment, discipline, work programmes, outdoor physical activities and comprehensive supervision services.

Young Offender Assessment

Young male offenders aged 14 to 24 and young female offenders aged 14 to 20 may be referred by the court and be interviewed by The Young Offender Assessment Panel, which is jointly formed by professionals of CSD and the Social Welfare Department. The panel will then recommend the most appropriate treatment for each case.

Welfare Support and Counselling

Right from the moment the offenders are admitted to a correctional institution, they may receive the welfare support and counselling from the CSD.

The welfare support and counselling cover the following areas:

• to cater for the offenders’ welfare needs;
• to help the offenders cope with their adjustment problems arising from imprisonment;
• to assist in the provision of various rehabilitation programmes to meet the rehabilitative needs of the offenders; and
• to help the offenders get prepared for their release by providing them with pre-release counselling services and if necessary, referring them to appropriate social welfare organisations for follow-up support and services.

Psychological Services

Psychological services are provided to improve the mental health of PICs and to change their offending behaviours.

The services are carried out by a team of clinical psychologists and departmental officers trained in psychological work. Programmes include:

• treatment programme for sex offenders and offenders with substance abuse;
• mental health programme and violence prevention programme for adult offenders;
• offending behaviour programme for young offenders to develop pro-social values and to change their offending behaviours;
• parent-inmate programme to enhance the involvement of the offenders’ families in the rehabilitation process.

Education

Young PICs under 21 receive compulsory formal day classes for general subjects, as well as classes on practical subjects. Young PICs are also encouraged to take public examinations, such as the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, the City and Guilds International examinations and the Cambridge English examinations.

For adult PICs, they can participate on voluntary basis in self-studying courses or distance-learning programmes including tertiary education courses offered by external educational organisations and institutes.

Vocational Training

Young PICs under 21 receive half-day vocational training in technical or business streams, which help them obtain vocational qualifications. They include:

• courses for public examinations of the City and Guilds
• courses for taking the trade tests conducted by the Vocational Training Council or the Construction Industry Council Training Academy
• courses for acquiring vocational skills for job placement

Adult PICs can also obtain vocational qualifications by taking trade tests conducted by the Construction Industry Council Training Academy and the Vocational Training Council. To prepare for employment after release, pre-release vocational courses may be provided.

Statutory Supervision

PICs may be discharged for statutory supervision before the end of their imprisonment under the Release Under Supervision Scheme and the Pre-release Employment Scheme. The supervision staff will visit the supervisees’ home or workplace regularly. With the support of the PICs’ families, other persons (including employers, NGOs, etc.) and supervision staff, the PICs can prepare for the challenges on their return to the community.

PICs released from training centres, rehabilitation centres, detention centre and drug addiction treatment centres and those subject to post release supervision under Post-Release Supervision of Prisoners Ordinance and Long-term Prison Sentences Review Ordinance will also be supervised by supervision staff so that they can re-integrate into the society smoothly.

Rehabilitation Synergistic Partners

The Department works closely with Rehabilitation Synergistic Partners to provide rehabilitation programmes. There are around 100 NGOs / charities / organisations / community stakeholders providing counselling and keep running cultural, religious and recreational projects, or actively involving in departmental long-term project and planning. You can refer to the list below:

1. Agency for Volunteer Service
2. Alliance Bible Seminary Student Evangelistic Band
3. Association of The Hong Kong Central and Western District
4. Barnabas Charitable Service Association
5. Buddha's Light International Association of HK
6. Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation (HK)
7. Care and Love Foundation Company Limited
8. Care of Rehabilitated Offenders Association Limited
9. Caritas Community Support Project on Development of Sexual Health
10. Caritas Lok Heep Club
11. Catholic Diocese of HK Bishop's Office
12. Caritas WONG YIU NAM Centre
13. Chabad of Hong Kong
14. Cheong Bun Gratia Association
15. Christian Action
16. Christian Fellowship of Pastoral Care for Youth
17. Christian Living Word Life Fellowship
18. Christian New Life Association
19. Christian Prison Pastoral Association
20. City University of Hong Kong Staff Association
21. Clothing Industry Training Authority
22. Community Synergy for Rehabilitation Association
23. Community Synergy for Rehabilitation Association
24. Confucian Academy
25. Dawat-e Islami Hong Kong
26. Dream Possible
27. Evangelical Free Church of China
28. Friendship Society
29. Fullness Christian Vocational Training Centre Limited
30. Fung Ying Seen Koon
31. Good Shepherd Renewal Ministry
32. Hon Jor Sapientia Association
33. Hong Kong Academy of Play Therapy
34. Hong Kong Buddhist Library Limited
35. Hong Kong Christian Kun Sun Association Ltd
36. Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
37. Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union
38. Hok Yau Club
39. International Classics Culture Association
40. International CICA Association of Esthetics
41. International Social Service Hong Kong Branch
42. Joy Tak Mildness Association
43. Khalsa Diwan (Sikh Temple) Hong Kong
44. Lay Prison Evangelical Organisation
45. Lions Club of Tsuen Wan
46. Lions Clubs International District 303 - Hong Kong & Macau
47. Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon
48. Man Lan Intellectus Association  
49. Med Art
50. Merchants Support for Rehabilitated Offenders Committee Ltd.
51. Ming Toa Consillium Association
52. Mother of Good Counsel Parish
53. New Life Charitable Foundation Limited
54. Ohel Leah Synagogue
55. Operation Dawn Hong Kong  
56. Orthodox Church in Hong Kong
57. Phoenix Charitable Foundation
58. Po Leung Kuk
59. Pok Oi Hospital
60. Prisoners' Friends' Association
61. Rotary Club of Wanchai
62. Rotary International District 3450
63. Scout Association of Hong Kong
64. Shui Ting Scientia Association 
65. Sik Sik Yuen
66. Silence
67. Sisters of the Good Shepherd - China District
68. Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers
69. St. Augustine Youth Association
70. ST. Francis Church
71. St. John's Cathedral
72. St. Paul's Correspondence Association
73. St. Peter's Revival Association
74. ST. Stephen's Chapel
75. Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio
76. Teresa Confidence Association
77. The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce
78. The Chinese Muslim Cultural & Fraternal Association
79. The Hong Kong Award for Young People
80. The Hong Kong Buddhist Association
81. The Hong Kong Child-Rity Association
82. The Hong Kong Girl Guides Association
83. The Incorporated Trustees of The Islamic Community Fund of HK
84. The Salvation Army Hong Kong and Macau
85. The Society of Rehabilitation & Crime Prevention, HK
86. The Warehouse Teenage club Ltd
87. Tien Shen Spes Association
88. Ting Toi Ching She
89. Tsz Shan Monastery
90. Tung Sin Tan
91. Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
92. TWGHs Even Centre
93. Vocational Training Council
94. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
95. Wong Sing Pietas Association 
96. Wu Oi Christian Centre
97. Wuliang Shou Jing She Pure Land Buddhist Association of Hong Kong
98. Xavier Fellowship Association  
99. YAMA FOUNDATION
100. Yan Chai Hospital
101. Yan Oi Tong
102. Youth Outreach
103. Yuen Yuen Institute
104. Zhao Rong Meekness Association
105. Zonta Club of Hong Kong
106. Zonta Club of Kowloon

Community Education

Apart from providing safe custody and rehabilitation programmes, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) has endeavoured to collaborate with educational institutions and community service organisations in order to proactively promote community education. We aim at helping young people develop positive values towards life and become responsible and law-abiding citizens with a view to reducing crime.

In September 2008, CSD launched the Rehabilitation Pioneer Project (RPP) targeting at youngsters. Through a series of activities such as Education Talks, Personal Encounter with Prisoners Scheme, Green Haven Scheme, Visits to Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum, Extended Training Camp, Student Forum, Drama and Music Performance of “Creation and Rehabilitation”, The Reflective Path, Summer Tour, Rehabilitation Pioneer Leaders, Mission in Prison and Rehabilitation Express, CSD seeks to disseminate to young people the messages of safeguarding our country and home, leading a law-abiding and drug-free life as well as supporting offender rehabilitation.

Enquiries

For more information, you can contact the CSD’s hotline at (852) 2511 3511 or email to email@csd.gov.hk.