Services for Offenders

OBJECTIVES

11.1
The overall objective of services for offenders under the SWD is to give effect to the directions of the courts on the treatment of offenders by social work approaches through community-based and residential services with a view to re-integrating offenders into the community.

SERVICE PROVISION

11.2
The service provision as at 31 March 2017 is as follows:
  • 1 High Court and District Court Probation Office
  • 7 probation and community service orders offices
  • 1 Co-ordinating Office of Community Service Orders
  • 6 social service centres for ex-offenders
  • 6 hostels for ex-offenders
  • 1 correctional/residential home
  • 1 Young Offender Assessment Panel
  • 1 Post-Release Supervision of Prisoners Scheme

COMMUNITY-BASED REHABILITATION SERVICES

11.3
The SWD provides community-based services for offenders and implements the integrated model to provide one-stop probation and community service orders services. There are seven probation and community service orders offices (PCSOs) and the High Court and District Court Probation Office (HC&DCPO) serving respectively all magistrates' courts, and district courts and the High Court in Hong Kong. Probation Officers prepare social enquiry reports on the offenders and make recommendations as requested by the courts and on petitioning and long-term prisoners. They provide statutory supervision and counselling as well as group work service for offenders placed under probation or community service order (CSO) supervision.
11.4
The Co-ordinating Office of Community Service Orders (COCSO) supports the seven PCSOs and HC&DCPO in identifying and co-ordinating work projects, and liaising with Probation Officers on work site performance of offenders placed under the CSO.
11.5
The number of supervision cases served under probation service and the CSO scheme for 2015-16 and 2016-17 are shown in Charts 14 and 15 respectively as follows:

PROBATION SERVICE

Chart 14: Number of Supervision Cases Served

COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS SCHEME

Chart 15: Number of Supervision Cases Served

ENHANCED PROBATION SERVICE

11.6
Upon the recommendation of the Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse in its report promulgated in November 2008, the Enhanced Probation Service (EPS) was piloted in October 2009 at the two probation offices serving the Kowloon City Magistracy and the Kwun Tong Magistracy. With positive findings in the service review, the EPS has been extended to all the seven magistracies in December 2013 to provide more focused, structured and intensive treatment programmes pursuant to the Probation of Offenders Ordinance, Cap. 298 for young offenders aged below 21 convicted of drug-related offences. With positive service outcome, the EPS was regularised on 1 April 2016. As at 31 March 2017, 1 128 social enquiry cases were referred by the magistracies and considered for the EPS, among which 483 young drug offenders were placed under the supervision of the EPS.

CORRECTIONAL/RESIDENTIAL HOME

11.7
The SWD provides residential training services for children and young offenders, children and juveniles in need of care or protection, etc. in a purpose-built training complex, the Tuen Mun Children and Juvenile Home, with a capacity of 388. It serves the statutory functions of a place of refuge, a remand home, an approved institution (probation home) and a reformatory school. The numbers of admissions to a place of refuge/remand home/place of detention for 2015-16 and 2016-17 are 1 198 and 945 respectively. The numbers of discharged cases for the approved institution (probation home) and reformatory school for 2015-16 and 2016-17 are shown in Chart 16 as follows:

APPROVED INSTITUTION (PROBATION HOME) AND REFORMATORY SCHOOL

Chart 16: Number of Discharged Cases

JOINT VENTURE WITH THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

11.8
The Young Offender Assessment Panel and the Post-Release Supervision of Prisoners Scheme operate in joint venture with the Correctional Services Department for young offenders and adult discharged prisoners respectively. The numbers of cases served by the two services are shown in Charts 17 and 18 respectively as follows:

YOUNG OFFENDER ASSESSMENT PANEL

Chart 17: Number of Cases Served

POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION OF PRISONERS SCHEME

Chart 18: Number of Supervision Cases Served
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