ICPA Annual Conference 2024

The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) has arranged 10 facility visits that ICPA participants can choose from, including prisons, drug rehabilitation centres, community spaces and halfway houses. The visits will share how SPS ensures safe and secure custody, while facilitating evidence-informed rehabilitation and reintegration activities to reduce re-offending, efficiently and effectively, leveraging on technology and community partnerships, in our institutions continuing into aftercare. The visits will be held on 6 September 2024 (Friday) between 7.30am to 12.30pm. Participants who wish to join these visits may sign up during the conference at the facility visit registration booth. Please note that spaces are limited.

 

SPS administers 14 prisons and drug rehabilitation centres, housing about 10,700 prisoners and drug abusers, with about 25% serving the tail end of their sentences in the community. Most institutions are located within Changi Prison Complex (built in two phases in 2004 and 2010). Selarang Park Complex is the newest complex operationalised in 2020. In land-scarce Singapore, our prisons are designed high-rise and managed in clusters of 4 to 5 institutions for greater operational efficiency. There are three types of prison cells in our institutions. Maximum security institution comprises single-man cells. Cells in medium security institution can house up to four inmates while cells in low-medium security institution house up to eight inmates. Inmates with mobility issues will be housed in medical wards or cells with assisted living features.

Operationalised in 2010, Institution B3 functions as both a prison and drug rehabilitation centre. It is a medium security prison housing male penal inmates and drug abusers and has a capacity of 1,260 inmates.

 

Institution B3 runs various programmes to support inmates and drug abusers in their rehabilitation. This includes Psychology-Based Correctional Programmes to address inmates’ criminogenic needs, family programmes for inmates to maintain family ties, and various personal development programmes.

 

Work programmes are provided to upskill the inmates and inculcate work ethics, enhancing their employability. Institution B3 houses several workshops including a call centre where inmates take on the roles of call agents. They assist inmates’ family members in visit bookings and support various commercial contact centre services.

 

Operationalised in 2010, Institution B4 functions as both a prison and drug rehabilitation centre. It is a low-medium security prison housing both male penal inmates and drug abusers and has a capacity of 1,584 inmates.

 

Institution B4 operates various training facilities allowing inmates to learn new skills to enhance their employability. These include:

The institution is also a pre-release centre for drug abusers to undergo pre-release programmes to support their reintegration back into society. In collaboration with Yellow Ribbon Singapore, job placements and employment assistance are provided for them prior to their release.

 

Operationalised in 2020, Institution S1 is a low-medium security facility functioning as a Drug Rehabilitation Centre. It houses drug abusers undergoing drug treatment and rehabilitation and has a capacity of 1,480.

 

Being one of the newest institution, Institution S1 features the latest technologies being trialled in Singapore Prison Service as follows:

 

The institution’s facilities are also specially designed to facilitate the wide range of programmes and training to address drug abusers’ rehabilitation needs. Programmes include Psychology-Based Correctional Programmes targeting drug abusing behaviour, and skills training to enhance abusers’ employability upon release.

 

This visit comprises two locations – Institution S2 and Selarang Park Community Supervision Centre (SPCSC), both operationalised in 2020.

 

Institution S2 is a low-medium security facility which has a capacity of 840 and is a hybrid institution comprising a centralised Re-entry Preparation Centre for inmates at the tail-end of their sentences, and a work release camp for supervisees on community-based programmes.

 

SPCSC is a dedicated supervision centre for supervisees in the community. Its facilities include a urine test reporting centre, interview rooms and job coach office. Supervisees report to SPCSC for emplacement briefings, urine tests and interview sessions with their Reintegration Officers and Correctional Rehabilitation Specialists.

 

The visit will showcase various technologies such as:

 

 

 

This visit comprises two locations – Selarang Halfway House (SHWH) and Breakthrough Missions.

Selarang Halfway House (SHWH) which was operationalised in 2018 is a secular residential facility for both genders. It offers step down programmes such as Mandatory Aftercare Scheme and community-based programmes. SHWH has a capacity of 480 residents.

 

SHWH in collaboration with Singapore Prison Service, work closely with supervisees and family members to address their employment and accommodation needs. A variety of programmes such as art therapy, drug recovery support group, and social emotional awareness workshop are conducted in SHWH, to keep residents meaningfully engaged.

 

Breakthrough Missions is one of the nine community halfway houses that partners Singapore Prison Service in providing stepdown support for its supervisees. Started in 1983 by a group of ex-drug abusers, Breakthrough Missions offers a faith-based drug rehabilitation programme for Christian male supervisees. It has a capacity of 170 residents.

 

Breakthrough Missions’ programme aims to build spiritual foundations through daily devotion, classes and counselling, helping residents develop Christian values and character, spiritual growth and discipline in work and life.

 

 

This visit comprises two locations – Rise Above Halfway House (RAHWH) and Industrial and Services Co-operative Society Limited (ISCOS) Community Space.

 

Operationalised in 2022, RAHWH is the ninth community halfway house, set up by the Singapore Muslim Women’s Association (PPIS), in partnership with the Singapore Prison Service to provide stepdown support for supervisees. It is the first secular halfway house for women undergoing community-based programmes. It has a capacity of 30 residents.

 

RAHWH is designed to inspire women supervisees to overcome their past challenges and draw strength from their struggles to become more confident and resilient. RAHWH runs a structured suite of programmes and provides a safe, holistic and therapeutic space for women supervisees to rebuild their lives. The facility is equipped with amenities such as an activity room, library, computer lab, art room, garden and studio kitchen to promote meaningful engagement and rehabilitation.

 

Established in 1989, ISCOS is the only co-operative of ex-offenders in Singapore that actively engages the community and provide pro-social support to help ex-offenders gain a foothold in society. ISCOS partners the Singapore Prison Service closely in delivering its services.

 

ISCOS conducts reintegration programmes and support groups for ex-offenders and provides them with financial assistance. The Community Space developed by ISCOS is used to run support groups, workshops, and training programmes for members and beneficiaries. The café located in the Community Space creates employment opportunities for members and allows them to receive food and beverage training and mentorship.