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Nearly one in two ex-offenders return to prison five years after release

SINGAPORE — The proportion of ex-offenders returning to prison two years after their release went down by half in the last 20 years or so, said Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam on Friday (June 28).

Figures from the Singapore Prison Service showed that as of last December, 70 per cent of 10,809 inmates were incarcerated for drug-related offences.

Figures from the Singapore Prison Service showed that as of last December, 70 per cent of 10,809 inmates were incarcerated for drug-related offences.

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SINGAPORE — The proportion of ex-offenders returning to prison two years after their release went down by half in the last 20 years or so, said Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam on Friday (June 28).

But staying out of trouble for a longer period has proven to be a challenge, with nearly one in two ex-offenders returning to prison five years after their release.

Mr Shanmugam revealed these statistics during a speech at a seminar for community partners of The Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-offenders (CARE) Network. The CARE Network comprises voluntary welfare organisations and community agencies led by the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) and Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises.

The annual seminar, which is into its seventh year, saw over 300 after-care professionals, volunteers and partners coming together at Fairmont Singapore for a closed-door dialogue on how to strengthen and expand support for inmates and ex-offenders .

Twenty years ago, 44 per cent of ex-offenders returned to prison two years after their release. The proportion dropped to 24 per cent for the last cohort that was released in 2016.

According to the CARE Network, around 9,000 inmates are released from prison each year.

Mr Shanmugam said that while the drop in the two-year recidivism rate was a “very significant improvement” and was one of the lowest in the world, the proportion of people committing offences again after five years — which currently stood at 41 per cent for the 2013 cohort — was “a cause for concern”.

According to statistics from SPS, this figure has remained stable over the last three years.

Mr Shanmugam said that most inmates were in prison due to drugs or drug-related offences. Figures from SPS showed that as of last December, 70 per cent of 10,809 inmates were incarcerated for drug-related offences. There are about 2,300 drug offenders currently on community supervision, with the figure expected to rise to 3,000 by the end of next year.

MOST EX-OFFENDERS SHARE SAME ISSUES

To help drug abusers reform, Mr Shanmugam highlighted changes that had been made to the Misuse of Drugs Act earlier this year to emphasise a more rehabilitative approach towards offenders.

For instance, drug offenders will be put on community supervision over longer periods of time, with a focus on treating them and helping them break their habit after they re-enter society.

Speaking to the media at the event, director of the CARE Network office, Ms Shanthi Pandian, said that the agency would make a “more concerted” effort to work with community partners and adopt a more collaborative approach. For instance, the CARE Network and non-profit arts organisation Global Cultural Alliance had collaborated to give inmates an opportunity to work with the elderly, such as by doing art work.

The agency also hopes to bring more ex-offenders on board its programmes.

James (not his real name), a former inmate who mentors troubled youths and offenders, said most ex-offenders share the same issues, such as difficulty in finding jobs and adapting to life after leaving their secret societies.

He takes part in sharing sessions hosted by the Industrial and Services Cooperative Society, a non-profit that helps ex-inmates and their families.

He said: “During our sharing, (the ex-offenders) will look at me and feel encouraged as I have also faced the same issues as them.”

Superintendent Faisal Mustaffa, who oversees the pre-release process of inmates in SPS, added that families of offenders need better knowledge on how to support ex-offenders upon their release.

With stronger family support, the chances of ex-offenders not returning to prison increase, the 50-year-old added.

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