Advancing Corrections Journal - Edition #19 - Excellence in Juvenile Justice Policy and Practice | Article 7 (ACJ19-A007)

Article 7: More Than Just a Phase — Lived Experience of a Singaporean Young Desistor (ACJ19-A007) by Angeline Tay, Ace Ong, Ruo Ting Goh, Feng Ling Quah, Andrew Ho & Ewen Thai

Abstract

Juvenile delinquency continues to be an area of focus globally. Inspired by a youth desistor, who hoped to leverage on his lived experience, to impact positive changes to other justice-involved youths, this study explores the complex navigation of reintegration challenges along a justice-involved youth’s desistance journey. Narrative analysis of one case study, drawn from an in-depth life story interview, revealed four key themes, highlighting the process of primary, secondary and tertiary desistance. Relational desistance was reflected strongly as well, where the role of mentoring and the positive effect of belonging to a community of desistors aided the process.

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Authors

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.

Ace Ong

Correctional Rehabilitation Specialist, Singapore Prison Service, Singapore

Ace Ong is a Correctional Rehabilitation Specialist with the Singapore Prison Service (SPS), where her role encompasses rehabilitating and reintegrating justice-involved individuals. Ace has conducted assessments, developed intervention plans, and delivered psychology-based counselling programs for justice-involved individuals such as youths and drug use. Ace holds a Master of Science with Distinction in Forensic Psychology and Mental Health from Coventry University and completed her Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honors) in Psychology from the National University of Singapore. Ace’s research interests lie in offender rehabilitation and cognitive processes among justice-involved individuals. Passionate about evidence-based rehabilitation, she contributes to the field through program development and frontline engagement with justice-involved populations.

Ruo Ting

Executive, Singapore Prison Service, Singapore

Ruo Ting is an executive at the Singapore Prison Service (SPS), where she collaborates with community partners and desistors to implement programmes for SPS beneficiaries. Prior to this role, she served as a Correctional Rehabilitation Specialist at the Reformative Training Centre, providing counselling and conducting rehabilitation programmes for justice-involved youths. She has also worked with the Correctional Research Branch, contributing to studies on desistance, legislative perceptions, and short-sentence offenders. Ruo Ting holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and her research Advancing Corrections Journal: Edition #19-2025 112 interests include the desistance process, desistor generativity, and the role of community support in rehabilitation.

Feng Ling Quah

Lead Specialist, Singapore Prison Service, Singapore

Quah Feng Ling is a Senior Correctional Rehabilitation Specialist with the Singapore Prison Service, serving as the Assistant Director of the Correctional Rehabilitation Services (Reformative Training) unit. With over a decade in correctional rehabilitation, she has worked with diverse inmate populations and contributed to developing rehabilitation structures. Beyond direct work, she is deeply committed to building capacity in the field, training staff in rehabilitation competencies, risk assessment, and restorative practices. Trained in social work, she understands that desistance is not an individual journey but one that thrives on the support of families, communities, and meaningful interventions.

Andrew Ho

Program Executive, The New Charis Mission, Singapore

Andrew Ho is a Program Executive with The New Charis Mission (TNCM), working in the program and community service department to support rehabilitation and community outreach. With a Diploma in Social Service, Andrew is currently pursuing a Degree in Counselling with Flinders University. Andrew facilitates group counselling programs for RTs in RTC, a mentor to youths in schools, and organizes recreational activities for elderlies in the community. Passionate about second chances, Andrew believes strongly in the potential for justice-involved youths to reform and build a better future.

Ewen Thai

Senior Correctional Unit Officer, Singapore Prison Service, Singapore

Ewen Thai is a Senior Correctional Unit Officer with the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) and currently working at the Reformative Training Centre (RTC). He oversees the safe custody, humane treatment, and rehabilitation of Reformative Trainees. Half of Ewen’s 20 years of experience in SPS was spent working with justice-involved youths. On a daily basis, he carries with him compassion and jail craft experience for effective and efficient management of inmates under his charge. Ewen believes in the power of active listening and observation to help justice-involved youths reflect, accept accountability, and discover their purpose as they navigate through life. He takes pride in working with a dedicated team, committed to guiding justice-involved youths toward positive change for a safer Singapore. Holding a degree in Management Studies, he enjoys analyzing behavior through an economics and game theory lens.

Advancing Corrections Journal - Edition #19 - Excellence in Juvenile Justice Policy and Practice | Article 7 (ACJ19-A007)

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