Rehabilitation for Young Offenders in Hong Kong Correctional Institutions

Abstract

The motto of the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department (CSD) is to "Support Rehabilitative Offenders for a More Inclusive Society." The Hong Kong CSD has developed a correctional system which has placed increasing emphasis on correction and rehabilitation of offenders over the years. This paper describes the efforts of the Hong Kong CSD in the rehabilitation of young offenders through its Rehabilitation Division that comprises five units: (1) Rehabilitation Units (Assessment and Program), (2) Education Unit, (3) Vocational Training Unit, (4) Psychological Services Section, and (5) Rehabilitation Unit (Supervision). Successful stories in the rehabilitation of young offenders as a result of efforts of the CSD are presented. Finally, several areas of focus of the Hong Kong CSD are highlighted, which may serve as focus areas for other correctional institutions worldwide. (Contains 2 tables and 8 endnotes.)