ID: ACJ19-A006 01 Jul 2025

by Fann Jiang Yunfan, Devni Chamathka Wijayaratne, Jocelyn Choo, Liang-yu (April) Lin, Angeline Tay

Article 6: From Adversity to Desistance: An Exploratory Study of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Agency, and Social Support Among Justice-Involved Youths (ACJ19-A006)

Advancing Corrections Journal - Edition #19 - Excellence in Juvenile Justice Policy and Practice | Article 6 (ACJ19-A006)

https://doi.org/10.65264/NGNG9176

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known barriers to desistance for justice-involved youths, with research showing its high prevalence among them. Additionally, agency to desist and social support have been identified as facilitators of desistance among justice-involved adults and may play an important role to mitigate the impact of ACEs for justice-involved youths. Given the lack of research on desistance of justice-involved youths, this exploratory study examined the role of ACEs, agency to desist, and social support in the desistance journey of justice-involved youths in Singapore. Findings reveal the complex interplay of these factors and provide insights for targeted rehabilitative interventions.

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Authors

Fann Jiang Yunfan

Assistant Director, Lead Psychologist, Correctional Research Branch, Singapore Prison Service, Singapore

Fann is a Lead Psychologist with the Singapore Prison Service, currently serving as Assistant Director of the Correctional Research Branch, where she leads on the team’s evaluation portfolio. In her 12 years of service, Fann has been involved in a variety of correctional work which includes developing and evaluating Psychologybased Correctional Programmes for a range of offenders such as those who have committed violent, sexually violent, and drug abuse offences. In the last five years, Fann was leading the research team on studies that examined desistance in different incarcerated populations as well as studies that investigated family-related issues which are topics that she is passionate about as well. Fann holds a Master of Forensic Psychology degree from University of York, United Kingdom.

Devni Chamathka Wijayaratne

Senior Research Analyst, Singapore Prison Service, Singapore

Devni Chamathka Wijayaratne is a Senior Research Analyst at Singapore Prison Service, currently working in the Correctional Research Branch where she contributes to projects in the evaluation team. In her time at the organization, Devni has worked on research projects serving a range of offending populations, including justice-involved youths, sexually violent offenders, drug offenders, and incarcerated mothers, which coincide with her research interests. She is passionate about research work that explores restorative interventions, safe institutions, and supportive community corrections frameworks

Jocelyn Choo

Research Analyst, Singapore Prison Service, Singapore

Jocelyn Choo is a Research Analyst at Singapore Prison Service, currently working in the Correctional Research Branch. She is actively involved with the research team, contributing to projects focused on youth desistance and desistance prediction. Previously, she conducted research projects examining desistance across various incarcerated populations and studied the impact on offenders' families. She is passionate about research work focused on social and community capital, faithbased interventions, and tailored approaches for sexual and violent offenders.

Liang-yu (April) Lin

Senior Assistant Director, Correctional Research Branch, Singapore Prison Service, Singapore

April Lin Liangyu is a Principal Psychologist with the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) and currently serves as the Senior Assistant Director (SAD) of the Correctional Research Branch, overseeing research activities of SPS. Previously, she was the SAD of the Psychological Programme Design and Evaluation Branch, where she was involved in developing Psychology-based Correctional Programmes, as well as evaluating rehabilitation programmes, regimes, and policies. With over 16 years of experience in correctional research and practice, April is an advocate of the scientist-practitioner model. She is dedicated to enhancing service delivery for the offender population as informed by evidence.

April holds a Master's degree in Applied Psychology from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Her research interests include the use of positive psychology interventions with offenders, desistance, substance addiction, and the neurocognitive functioning of offenders with drug abuse issues.

Angeline Tay

Senior Assistant Director, Singapore Prison Service, Singapore

Angeline Tay is a Lead Correctional Rehabilitation Specialist with the Singapore Prison Service, currently serving as Senior Assistant Director of Correctional Rehabilitation Services (Reformative Training) where she oversees a range of rehabilitation and reintegration services for justice-involved youths sentenced to Reformative Training Centre (RTC). She is passionate in advancing the work with reformative trainees and their families, addressing criminogenic needs such as family relationships, substance abuse, youth violence and gangs. She believes strongly in evidence-based rehabilitative practices and has been instrumental in initiating various regime activities, both in RTC and in community supervision. Angeline holds a Master of Counselling degree, and her professional training consisted of a Postgraduate Diploma in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and in Clinical Supervision. Her research interests encompass family-centric intervention, gamified behaviors, mentoring, and substance addiction of youth offenders.

Article 6: From Adversity to Desistance: An Exploratory Study of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Agency, and Social Support Among Justice-Involved Youths (ACJ19-A006)

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