Corrections Flashcards
1
Q
In 2018, what is Singapore’s
- Recidivism Rate (reoffend within 2 years)
- No. of Convicted Penal Admissions
- In-Care Offender Population
A
- “Is there a pattern to those going to prison?”
- Recidivism Rate (reoffend within 2 years): 23.7%
-
High turnover in prison ➝ SW intervention in prisons needs to be intensive
- No. of Convicted Penal Admissions: 9.5k
- In-Care Offender Population: ~ 11k
2
Q
Describe the various rehabilitative sentencing alternatives and community-based sanctions
A
-
Mandatory Treatment Order (MTO)
- Provides treatment for offenders with psychiatric conditions contributing to the offence
- Through IMH
-
Community Service Order (CSO)
- Reformative purposes
- Make amends to the community by performing supervised unpaid community service
-
Day Reporting Order (DRO)
- Report to Day Reporting Centre for monitoring, counselling, rehab
- Admistered by SPS
-
Short Detention Order (SDO)
- Detained in prison for < 14 days
2018: Expanded eligibility for community sentences so offenders can benefit from rehabilitative opportunities
- Those who: previously served prison terms ≤ 3 mths OR reformative training
- More serious offences eligible for MTOs
3
Q
Describe the jurisdiction and operation of the Community Court
A
- For
- Youthful offenders (16 - 21)
- Offenders with mental disabilities, > 65 (selected)
- Family violence
- Attempted suicide
- Neighbourhood disputes, race relations, underage sex etc.
- Believe that crime can be prevented ➝ Problem-solving approach with multi-disciplinary socio-legal team ➝ Tackle root causes of criminality
- Develop treatment plans for offenders + safety plans for victims
- Heavy weight given to social report and recommendations
- Uses sentencing alternatives and community-based sanctions
- Mandatory Treatment Order (MTO)
- Community Service Order (CSO)
- Day Reporting Order (DRO)
- Short Detention Order (SDO)
4
Q
Who are the key parties in Singapore’s Criminal Justice System?
A
- Law Enforcement (police, CNB, CPIB)
- Judicial Process (courts)
- Corrections (prisons, probations)
5
Q
Describe “Rehabilitation”
A
- Punishment regime to help reform the offender
- Originated from reformatory movement in late 19th cc, which advocated:
- Educational & vocational training
- Indeterminate sentencing & parole
6
Q
Describe “Reintegration”
A
- Assist released offenders to adapt to and re-establish themselves in the community
- Halfway houses + other service centres
7
Q
Describe some of the government’s efforts to encourage the rehabilitation of EOs
A
-
Registration of Criminals Act amended in 2005
- First time offender + fined less than $2000 + imprisoned < 3 months + remained crime / drug free for ≥ 5 years ➨ Offence considered SPENT
- Make it less discriminator for job-hunting EOs
- Inter-Ministry Committee established in 2009 to address the problem of reoffending, recommended:
- Activating community-based networks to provide protective factors for EOs
-
Mandatory Aftercare Programme for EOs with high risk of reoffending
- 2019: At govt-run Selarang Halfway House
- 2019: Same case officer assigned to inmate from start (in prison) to end of rehab journey (back to community)
8
Q
Describe the Case Management Programme involved in Aftercare
A
- Individualised Service Plan (ISP) developed by full-time Aftercare Case Managers (ACMs) from SACA and SANA
- Engage clients 2 months before release, till 6 months into aftercare
9
Q
Describe “Retribution”
A
- “Eye for an eye”, “Just Deserts”
- Justice: Punishment = Magnitude of harm inflicted + culpability
- Punishes offender on the victim’s behalf
10
Q
What are the characteristics of sentencing alternatives and community-based sanctions, and how do they reflect Social Work beliefs?
A
- Charateristics
- Order doesn’t go into permanent record, unlike Sentence
- Offender must choose to participate in the Order
- Court reserves the right to give Sentence later on depending on the offender’s performance or treatment outcome
- SW beliefs
- Human capacity for change
-
Person-in-environment perspective
- Multi community-based systems
-
Strengths-based perspective
- Tap on family’s inherent resiliencies & coping resources
11
Q
Describe “Prevention”
A
Locking the offender away, physically incapacitating him so he cannot cause further harm
12
Q
Describe the Prisons Halfway House Scheme
A
- Established since 1995 to allow amenable offenders of Rehab Centres and Prisons without strong family support to spend last stage of detention at HH
-
Halfway House Service Model (revised in 2010, currently 8 HH operators)
- Stipulates service requirements ➝ Structured & professional rehab services
- Phase 1: Pre-HH Emplacement – needs assessment, develop ISP tgt
- Phase 2: HH-Based Structured Transition – intensive therapeutic intervention – employment, education, social support, coping skills
- Phase 3: Work-Based Transition – Job emplacement or attend certified courses
- Phase 4: Community-Based Support – aftercare support for another 3 months
- Stipulates service requirements ➝ Structured & professional rehab services
13
Q
What are the aims and roles of social work in corrections?
A
- Aims
- Help offender change behavioural patterns so he become more socially acceptable
- Through
- SBP: Help him achieve better understanding of self & tap on his strengths
- Modifying env to bring about healthier social climate (key factors to staying offence free – Family, Accommodation, Community support for accountability, Employment)
- Through
- Attend to needs of prisoners and family members
- Criminal record ➝ Low earnings ➝ Other probs
- Help offender change behavioural patterns so he become more socially acceptable
- Roles (triage alongside police, courts, probation, community, correctional institutes etc.)
- Motivate
- Give info – help define situation + guide decision-making
- Env modification
14
Q
Describe “Deterrence”
A
- Crime-prevention strategy
- General: Discourage others from similar behaviour by punishing offender
- Specific: Discourage offender himself from repeating behaviour
- ↑ seriousness of crime ➝ ↑ severity of punishment
- Courts must adhere to sentencing guidelines
15
Q
What are the 5 prominent positions in the US history of corrections, and which principles does SG adopt in its principles of sentencing? (Just list)
A
- Retribution (SG)
- Deterrence (SG)
- Rehabilitation (SG)
- Reintegration
- Control
+ Prevention (SG)
