NCJ Number
228941
Date Published
January 2008
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This paper explains the philosophy of the Hong Kong Correctional Services (HKCS) for facilitating the reintegration of offenders into the community, as well as the various HKCS initiatives for reducing crime, including the continuous improvement of rehabilitative services, involvement of the community, and mobilization of community resources.
Abstract
The HKCS recognizes that the goal of rehabilitative philosophy is to change an offender's character, attitudes, and abilities so as to diminish his/her criminal behavior. The HKCS "Vision, Mission, and Values" statement in 1996 was designed to strengthen the agency's commitment to the rehabilitation of offenders. They were subsequently updated by benchmarking with the best practices of other advanced correctional administrations. Recognizing the importance of community acceptance and support of the successful reintegration of rehabilitated offenders, HKCS established a Committee on Community Support for Rehabilitated Offenders in late 1999. The committee advises HKCS on rehabilitation programs as well as reintegration and publicity strategies. Whether rehabilitated offenders can successfully reintegrate into the community upon release from custody will depend on the wide acceptance, recognition, and support of community members in addition to offenders' determination to commit to a law-abiding life. By promoting community involvement, the HKCS has been able to reduce public myths of prisons, increase the transparency of service, improve public understanding of correctional work, and establish close partnerships with community organizations. 7 footnotes and 2 appendixes