NCJ Number
200227
Date Published
October 2002
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This document discusses the treatment of juvenile offenders in Singapore.
Abstract
The Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) Chapter 38 is the key legislation governing the administration of juvenile justice in Singapore. Welfare of the juvenile is the guiding principle of this act. The act presents clear principles for care and protection orders, fit person orders, social work and supervised treatment, approved home, and young offender in custody. Singapore’s response to youth offending has been to pursue a fine equilibrium between the justice and restorative models as supportive elements of the juvenile justice system. The CYPA was amended in 2001 to give the Juvenile Court a wider range of non-custodial options and enhance community orders to meet the varied rehabilitative needs of pre-delinquents and young offenders. This amendment increases the momentum for juvenile justice reforms and centers around maximizing diversion from the court system, minimizing penetration into the system, proactively addressing offending behavior, and engendering public support and confidence. The management and treatment of juvenile offenders is grounded on the belief that every juvenile has the capacity to change and that the ultimate goal is the rehabilitation and reintegration of each juvenile in conflict with the law. The treatment of juvenile offenders includes pre-court diversionary measures and juvenile court measures. The guiding principles in the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders are diversion from court process where possible and appropriate; institutionalization as the last resort; the family as basic building block of society and change agent; and the many helping hands approach to community rehabilitation. The challenge for the future is to maintain a probation system that is structured in process and procedures and flexible and responsive to changing needs. Another challenge is to prepare probationers to carve job niches for themselves and reduce re-offending due to economic reasons. The focus will be on identifying partners for collaborative research, exchange of executive programs, and partnerships with both local and overseas counterparts. The identification of risk assessment and management tools, and dealing with the complex needs of individuals and families are also challenges. Appendix