"A second chance for young offenders in Singapore - CNA 13 Mar 2016
SINGAPORE: Last year, 3,121 youngsters were arrested by the police for various crimes. If the offences were minor in nature - like theft, for example - they might not have been prosecuted in court. Instead, they would be sent for rehabilitation, to give them a second chance.
One of the youth offenders who got a second chance is John (not his real name), who was nabbed for a slew of theft. The police placed John under the care of social workers. Their job was to find out what was driving his behaviour.
John was then referred to the Guidance Programme, which helped to get him back on the right path.
Introduced in 1997, the Guidance Programme targets youths aged between 10 and 19 who commit minor crimes - like theft. It comprises 21 sessions - both individual and group-based - which teach youth offenders to recognise their offence as a criminal act.
About 600 youth offenders have been referred to the programme every year since 2007, with about 60 per cent of them having been nabbed for theft.
Authorities said the programme diverts young offenders from the criminal justice system, giving them a chance to be rehabilitated within the community. This means they can continue with school or work without living with the stigma of a court prosecution.
Care Corner has run the Guidance Programme since 2012, and since then, more than 200 youths have passed through its doors. Of these, about 30 per cent continued to stay in touch - whether with their social workers, participating in the centre's youth activities, or by getting involved in its volunteer programmes - for example, by mentoring other youths, or helping the needy and elderly."
This is a good system to keep the youth away from the criminal justice system since the offences are mainly theft, and petty theft at that too.
1. as a volunteer probation officer, I come into contact with those that have committed slight more serious crimes. Yet, during the sessions with the probationers and their parents/guardians, breakdown in communication between them is the primary reason for them going astray;
2. kids these days have lots of distractions. Parents who are not making ends meet comfortably normally have to toil hard with very little time for their kids. Some resort to giving material creature comforts to keep them away from 'troubles' with the unintended consequences of promoting materialism. Besides the kids, the parents and guardians REALLY need help too on how to manage their priorities and communicating effectively with their kids;
3. social workers and counsellors and the network of befrienders are absolutely critical to ensuring the success of the Guidance program as the kids need a lot of affection and reassurance. The key is the to eventually bring the kids from 'dependent' to 'independent'! At an age where peers meant a lot more than the parents and guardians, slowly withdrawing after the kids seen the mentors/counsellors as 'great support' must be planned carefully and at good intervals.
May the program continues to score successes after successes. May the kids that were lost find their way and feet with the help of this program to become independent good decision makers.
SINGAPORE: Last year, 3,121 youngsters were arrested by the police for various crimes. If the offences were minor in nature - like theft, for example - they might not have been prosecuted in court. Instead, they would be sent for rehabilitation, to give them a second chance.
One of the youth offenders who got a second chance is John (not his real name), who was nabbed for a slew of theft. The police placed John under the care of social workers. Their job was to find out what was driving his behaviour.
John was then referred to the Guidance Programme, which helped to get him back on the right path.
Introduced in 1997, the Guidance Programme targets youths aged between 10 and 19 who commit minor crimes - like theft. It comprises 21 sessions - both individual and group-based - which teach youth offenders to recognise their offence as a criminal act.
About 600 youth offenders have been referred to the programme every year since 2007, with about 60 per cent of them having been nabbed for theft.
Authorities said the programme diverts young offenders from the criminal justice system, giving them a chance to be rehabilitated within the community. This means they can continue with school or work without living with the stigma of a court prosecution.
Care Corner has run the Guidance Programme since 2012, and since then, more than 200 youths have passed through its doors. Of these, about 30 per cent continued to stay in touch - whether with their social workers, participating in the centre's youth activities, or by getting involved in its volunteer programmes - for example, by mentoring other youths, or helping the needy and elderly."
This is a good system to keep the youth away from the criminal justice system since the offences are mainly theft, and petty theft at that too.
1. as a volunteer probation officer, I come into contact with those that have committed slight more serious crimes. Yet, during the sessions with the probationers and their parents/guardians, breakdown in communication between them is the primary reason for them going astray;
2. kids these days have lots of distractions. Parents who are not making ends meet comfortably normally have to toil hard with very little time for their kids. Some resort to giving material creature comforts to keep them away from 'troubles' with the unintended consequences of promoting materialism. Besides the kids, the parents and guardians REALLY need help too on how to manage their priorities and communicating effectively with their kids;
3. social workers and counsellors and the network of befrienders are absolutely critical to ensuring the success of the Guidance program as the kids need a lot of affection and reassurance. The key is the to eventually bring the kids from 'dependent' to 'independent'! At an age where peers meant a lot more than the parents and guardians, slowly withdrawing after the kids seen the mentors/counsellors as 'great support' must be planned carefully and at good intervals.
May the program continues to score successes after successes. May the kids that were lost find their way and feet with the help of this program to become independent good decision makers.
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