PERSONS RELEASED FROM JUVENILE HOMES

PERSONS RELEASED FROM JUVENILE HOMES

8.

Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) for each of the years 2004, 2005 and 2006, what is the proportion of children and young persons released from The Singapore Boys' Home and Singapore Girls' Home who have continued their studies in public sector schools or educational institutions; and (b) for each of the years 2003, 2004 and 2005, what is the rate of children and young persons released from these institutions who have become repeat offenders within two years of their release.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: For the years 2004-2006, an average of 69.9% of the residents who were discharged from the juvenile homes continued their studies in educational or vocational schools. Those who did not continue with their education upon release were employed, waiting for enlistment into National Service, or had not yet decided whether to continue studying or find employment.

For each cohort of juvenile offenders who completed their Orders and were released from the Homes in 2003 and 2004, 38.5% of them re-offended within the two years of their release. The recidivism rate is not available yet for those released in 2005.

The Singapore Boys' Home and Singapore Girls' Home provide rehabilitation for young offenders. The rehabilitation programmes are three-pronged. Firstly, we provide specialised treatment programmes that target specific offending behaviours. Secondly, offenders attend educational, vocational and life skills training to prepare them for the future. Thirdly, we work closely with the offenders' families to improve their family relationship. The primary aim is to reintegrate these offenders into the community to lead productive lives.