Advancing Corrections Journal - Edition #7 - Giving Focus to Community Corrections (ACJ7-A004)

Article 4: Singapore’s Yellow Ribbon Project-Unlocking The Second Prison (ACJ7-A004)

Abstract

Launched in 2004, the Yellow Ribbon Project (YRP) is a national campaign across Singapore aimed at generating awareness, promoting acceptance and engendering community action to support ex-prisoners’ reintegration into mainstream society. Over the past fifteen years, the Yellow Ribbon Project and other criminal justice reforms have proven to be highly successful. While Singapore has one of the lowest crime rates in the world (overall crime rate in 2018 of 588 per 100,000 population) (Singapore Police Force 2018), over the course of the last two decades, it is r eported that there has been a one-third drop in recidivism, and increased social connections between prisons, prisoners and the rest of society (Helliwell 2011: 255). Since its inception, the Yellow Ribbon Project has garnered significant community support and has inspired community organisations to further leverage public support to assist ex-prisoners to reintegrate into mainstream society. This paper discusses the background, inception, framework, and various activities that the Yellow Ribbon Project undertakes to achieve its goals.

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Authors

Shanthi Pandian

Director, CARE Network Office, Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE), Singapore

Ms Shanthi Pandian graduated with an Honours Degree (2nd Upper) in Social Work from the National University of Singapore. She is presently the Director of CARE Network in the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises. The CARE Network was set up in 2000 and is the first formal structure in Singapore that brings together key community partners to promote seamless in-care to aftercare support for ex-offenders. It comprises 9 member agencies from both the government and nongovernment sector, and more than 100 community partners. In her current role, Ms Shanthi works with her team to develop strategies and directions and oversees the engagement of community partners to build a vibrant and forward-looking aftercare sector that will help reduce re-offending and promote a safer community. She also oversees the secretariat office for the Yellow Ribbon Project and Fund. Prior to her current role, Ms Shanthi served as a Senior Prison Officer in the Singapore Prison Service and has had direct experience in managing inmates and operations in a prison setting. She has also worked in the Policy Development Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs from 2010 to 2014, and contributed to maintaining the safety and security of Singapore.

Ruth Pauline Chin

Senior Assistant Director, CARE Network Office, Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE), Singapore

Ms. Ruth Pauline Chin graduated with Masters in Public Administration from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Policy, National University of Singapore and holds a Master’s degree in Professional Counselling from Swinburne University of Technology. She is presently the Senior Assistant Director of Community Relations and Engagement, CARE Network in SCORE where she oversees the Yellow Ribbon Project and Donor Relations in Yellow Ribbon Fund. Prior to her current role, Ms Ruth had served in leadership capacity in several Voluntary Welfare Organisations. She is a firm believer in second chances and her passion is in seeing the community come together to play their part in empowering the marginalised in the society. There is great synergy in this relationship that energises and transform the community.

Sandra Chua

Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, Singapore

Ms. Sandra Chua has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Management from the University of Oxford and a Master in Development Studies from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Prior to her university studies, at the age of seventeen, she initiated and led the organization of a dance showcase fundraiser in aid of the Yellow Ribbon. The event sold over 700 tickets, saw involvement from more than 100 volunteers and raised more than SGD $20,000 towards the cause. In SCORE, she conducted research on the employment demands of ex-offenders. She also conducted research on the aspirations and immediate reintegration challenges of female ex-offenders. This research is envisioned to enlighten future policy and programme design so that reintegration support may be better catered to the specific needs to ex-offenders. She has since ended her posting at SCORE and been posted to the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, but continues to be a champion for the cause.

Cheng Xiang Long

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

Mr Cheng Xiang Long graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Psychology (2nd Upper) and joined Singapore Prison Service (SPS) as a psychologist in 2008. He went on a two-year study leave in 2012 to complete his Master’s Degree in Psychology (Clinical), and returned to SPS as a psychologist in 2014. He is currently a Lead Psychologist, and is the Senior Assistant Director of the Correctional Research Branch. As a Lead Psychologist, he conducts assessments and intervention for adult violent and sex offenders, and offenders with mental illnesses. He also supervises other psychologists in their assessment and intervention work. Additionally, as the Senior Assistant Director of the research unit, he oversees a team of psychologists and research officers in conducting research on offenders’ needs and profiling to inform policy and practice of rehabilitation in Singapore Prison Service.

Advancing Corrections Journal - Edition #7 - Giving Focus to Community Corrections (ACJ7-A004)

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