Probation Period Imposed on Children and Young Offenders

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for each of the past five years (a) what are the average and median lengths of probation imposed on children and young persons (CYPs) who commit offences; (b) what are the number and percentage of CYPs who reoffend while on probation; and (c) what are the top three offences for which probation is imposed on CYPs.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Probation is a community rehabilitation order that requires an offender below 16 years old to be supervised by a Probation Officer for a period of between six months and three years.

From 2018 to 2022, the median length of probation orders was 21 months, and the top three offences were theft, voluntarily causing hurt and housebreaking.

Over the same period, around 9.5%, or seven of youth probationers, reoffended while on probation and had their orders revoked.