Hong Kong Correctional Services
| 懲教署 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1879 |
| Jurisdiction | |
| Headquarters | 23rd, 24th and 27th Floors, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai |
| Employees | 6,659 |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executives |
|
| Website | www.csd.gov.hk/ |
Hong Kong Correctional Services (also called Correctional Services Department, CSD, 懲教署) is responsible for prisoners and prisons in Hong Kong. The Commissioner of Correctional Services reports to the Secretary for Security.
Although the Chief Magistrate (now Commissioner of Police (Hong Kong)) was given control over prisons in 1841, the legislation to create the department did not come into being until 1853. CSD was part of the Hong Kong Police Force until 1879 when the role of Superintendent of Victoria Gaol was created. Superintendent of Victoria Gaol was re-titled as Superintendent of Prisons, the department has been financially independent from the Hong Kong Police Force since 1921.[citation needed]
Contents
Ranks[edit]
As with all of the Hong Kong Disciplined Services, British-pattern rank insignia continue to be utilised, with the only change being the replacement of the St. Edward's Crown by the Bauhinia flower crest in 1997.[1]
- Commissioner of Correctional Services (similar insignia to a UK General)
- Deputy Commissioner (similar insignia to a UK Lieutenant-General)
- Assistant Commissioner (similar insignia to a UK Major-General)
- Chief Superintendent (similar insignia to a UK Colonel)
- Senior Superintendent (similar insignia to a UK Lieutenant-Colonel)
- Superintendent (similar insignia to a UK Major)
- Chief Officer (similar insignia to a UK Captain)
- Principal Officer (similar insignia to a UK Lieutenant with a bar beneath)
- Officer (similar insignia to a UK Lieutenant)
- Probationary Officer (similar insignia to a UK Second Lieutenant)
- Assistant Officer Class I (similar insignia to a UK Sergeant)
- Assistant Officer Class II (similar to a UK Private)
Facilities[edit]
| Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status/Remarks |
| Shek Pik Prison | Shek Pik | 1984–present | Maximum security institution | 426 | active |
| Sha Tsui Correctional Institution | Shek Pik | 1972–present | Minimum security institution | 121 | active |
| Tong Fuk Correctional Institution | Ma Po Ping | 1966–present | Medium security institution | 925 | active |
| Lai Chi Rehabilitation Centre | Shek Pik | 2002–present | Rehabilitation Centre | 90 | active |
| Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status/Remarks |
| Bauhinia House | Tai Lam Chung | 1984–present | Half-way House | 24 | active; moved to current location in 2002 |
| Lai King Correctional Institution | Kwai Chung | 2008–present | Minimum security institution | 200 | active |
| Chi Lan Rehabilitation Centre | Kwai Chung | 2008–present | rehabilitation centre | 40 | active; relocated from Shek O Road in 2008 |
| Pik Uk Correctional Institution | Sai Kung | 1975–present | Maximum security institution | 385 | active |
| Pik Uk Prison | Sai Kung | 1975–present | Minimum security prison | 550 | active |
| Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre | Tai Lam Chung | 1972–present | Maximum security institution | 261 | active |
| Tai Lam Centre for Women | Tai Lam Chung | 1969–present | Maximum security institution | 151 | active |
| Tai Lam Correctional Institution | Tai Lam Chung | 1980–present | Minimum security institution | 598 | active |
| Wai Lan Rehabilitation Centre | Tai Lam Chung | 2002–present | Minimum security institution | 24 | active |
| Lo Wu Correctional Institution | Lo Wu | 2010–present | medium security institution | 1400 | active |
| Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status/Remarks |
| Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre | Lai Chi Kok | 1977–present | Maximum security institution | 1484 | active |
| Lai Hang Rehabilitation Centre | Tai Wo Ping | 2002–present | Rehabilitation Centre | 70 | active |
| Phoenix House | Tai Wo Ping | 1983–present | Half-way house | 30 | active |
| Pelican House | Tai Wo Ping | 1995–present | Half-way house | 30 | active; moved to location in 2004 |
| Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status/Remarks |
| Cape Collison Correctional Institution | Cape Collison | 1958–present | Training centre | 192 | active |
| Ma Hang Prison | Stanley | 1974–1/2015 | Minimum security institution | NA | decanted |
| Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution | Stanley | 1999–present | Medium security institution | 424 | active, adult no smoking correctional facility |
| Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution | Tai Tam Gap | 1980–present | Minimum security institution | 160 | active |
| Tung Tau Correctional Institution | Stanley | 1982–present | Minimum security institution | 452 | active, adult no smoking correctional facility |
| Victoria Prison | Central | 1841-2005 | Maximum security institution | NA | closed; see publication entitled "Victoria Prison Memorial Book" published by the CSD and available from the Correctional Services Museum Gift Shop at the Stanley Prison. |
| Stanley Prison | Stanley | 1937–present | Maximum security institution | 1511 | active |
| Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status/Remarks |
| Lai Sun Correctional Institution | Hei Ling Chau | 1984–present | Minimum security institution | 164 | active |
| Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution | Hei Ling Chau | 1984–present | Medium security institution | 532 | active |
| Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre | Hei Ling Chau | 1975–present | Drug Addiction Treatment Centre | 672 | active |
| Nei Kwu Correctional Institution | Hei Ling Chau | 2002–present | Minimum security institution | 236 | active |
Crest[edit]
The current crest of the force was adopted in 1997 to replace most of the colonial symbols:[2]
- St Edward's Crown replaced by the stylised Bauhinia flower crest
- Replacement of the Royal cypher by a Compass rose, with the words "Correctional Services 懲教署" circling it
- Addition of a laurel wreath bearing the words "Correctional Services Hong Kong"
Weapons[edit]
CSD officers are trained in the use of, and can be issued, revolvers as lethal sidearms, the ASP expendable baton and the Sabre Red pepper spray are the standard less-than-lethal options; additionally a type of pepper gun and the rubber bullet rifle form the standard-issue equipment of the elite anti-riot team officers, known as the Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT). Aside from handguns officers are also trained in the use of shoulder arms such as shotguns and rifles, however the long arms are rarely issued.
Revolvers are issued to staff escorting prisoners outside the prison, to those stationed in the watchtowers of the maximum security prisons. Other firearms are authorized for use under the observation of senior officers such as when prisoners escape from the prison, riot or when causing damage to the prison.
- Smith & Wesson Model 10: Standard issue sidearm for all CSD officers, 6-shot .38 Special revolver
- Remington 870: Standard issue 12-gauge shotgun
- Ruger Mini-14: Standard issue rifle, chambered in 5.56×45mm, only issued as a final resort
- AR-15- Standard issue for Guard of Honour
Rehabilitation Pioneer Project[edit]
Rehabilitation Pioneer Project
Background
Aiming at a more focused development, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) has, from September 2008 onwards, adopted a coordinated approach to implement the enhanced public education initiatives under a new project entitled "Rehabilitation Pioneer Project" (RPP), covering education talks, the Personal Encounter with Prisoner Scheme (PEPS), the Green Haven Scheme (GHS), visits to the Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum and Student Forum. A Kick-off-Ceremony of the RPP cum Student Forum was held on May 22, 2008.
Objective
The primary objective of RPP is to advocate a law-abiding and drug-free life amongst young people as well as enlisting their support for offender rehabilitation through organizing various public education activities.
Operations
1. Education talks
CSD has arranged its part-time staff to deliver education talks in schools / youth organizations. The purpose of these education talks are to provide students / youth with basic information on the criminal justice system in Hong Kong and the CSD's custodial and rehabilitative services, and to help simulate them to think about the consequences of committing crime and abusing drugs.
2. Personal Encounter with Prisoners Scheme (PEPS)
To generate attitude and behavioral changes among youths through their visits to correctional institutions and face-to-face discussions with reformed offenders. Currently, CSD has designated eleven correctional institutions for such visits, namely Cape Collinson Correctional Institution, Sha Tsui Correctional Institution, Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution, Lai King Correctional Institution, Tong Fuk Correctional Institution, Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution, Pik Uk Prison, Tai Lam Correctional Institution, Tung Tau Correctional Institution, Lai Chi Rehabilitation Centre and Lo Wu Correctional Institution.
3. Green Haven Scheme (GHS)
The scheme is to promote the anti-drug message and environmental protection messages among young people through visits to a Drug Addiction Treatment Centre on Hei Ling Chau. Participants will meet with young inmates there so as to facilitate individuals to gain insight into the detrimental effects of drug abuse. To publicize the anti-drug messages, in particular the serious consequences of psychotropic drug abuse, participants will also visit the GHS Resource Centre on Hei Ling Chau where drug replicas and ingestion tools for different drugs are exhibited.
4. Visits to Hong Kong Correctional Services (HKCS) Museum
Guided tours are provided to enable participants to have a better understanding of the development of CSD, particularly on rehabilitative services and the various publicity initiatives to enlist public support for offender rehabilitation. To highlight the rehabilitative work of CSD, information on rehabilitative services has been displayed at the Community Education Centre at the Annex of the Museum.
5. Visits by Education Professionals
CSD also proactively promotes RPP to schools where educational professionals will be invited to visit correctional institutions and to attend sharing session with reformed offenders with a view to enhancing their understanding on the programs of RPP and encouraging them to arrange students to participate in RPP in future.
6. Student Forum
To provide opportunities for secondary school students to interact with rehabilitated persons and discuss with them the detrimental consequences of committing crimes and drug abuses, CSD organizes large-scale Student Forum regularly. The forum is designed to provide further support or services to reinforce the participants’ determination to resist temptations against committing crimes or drug abuses.
By adopting a more interactive way of presentation, the forum featured a drama about the problem faced by a rehabilitated person when he reintegrates into the society as well as the temptation of drugs to misguided youths. Students will be invited to participate in a role play as different cast in the drama to examine the struggle in their mind, the forum enables the students understand the dire consequences of taking drugs and committing crimes so that they can make the right decisions in life and understand the importance and meaning of rehabilitation. It also encourages them to support and accept rehabilitated offenders to re-integrate into the community.
7. RPP Extended Training Camps
Since July 2012, CSD launched the RPP Extended Training Camp to strengthen youth training in the area of leadership, discipline and team building. The 3-days’ training camp takes places at the Correctional Services Staff Training Institute and Hei Ling Chau. The purposes of the camp are three folds:
- to help participants build up self-confidence, develop positive self-image and enhance their ability to overcome adversity;
- to encourage participants to play a more active role in community activities in future; and
- to enhance young participants’ understanding of CSD’s work and services.
8. RPP Creation and Rehabilitation
To acquire more community support, CSD has arranged students and teachers to participate in an innovative activity held in the Stanley Prison, namely “Creation and Rehabilitation (CAR) - a Music and Drama Performance” since April 2013.
Through the drama and music performance by a group of Category A prisoners in Stanley Prison, students are inspired of the diverse rehabilitative services of CSD and the effectiveness of the services. It also provides students with a chance to understand persons in custody from another perspective so that they would be aware of the importance of offender rehabilitation and social inclusion and in turn render support for offender rehabilitation.
9. The Reflective Path
The Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, officiated a launch ceremony for "The Reflective Path", a community education programme organised by the Correctional Services Department at Ma Hang Prison on 16 September 2015. More than 30 students and teachers from Yan Chai Hospital Lan Chi Pat Memorial Secondary School were invited to the ceremony. The students also became the programme's first batch of participants after its official opening. Introduced under the Rehabilitation Pioneer Project (RPP), "The Reflective Path" is a new programme that encourages students to take part in the role-play hearing of cases involving common youth crimes in a mock court at the Staff Training Institute in Stanley, enabling them to learn more about Hong Kong's criminal justice system. After the mock hearing, participants are "sentenced" by the mock court. In this way the students can experience the process of imprisonment at Ma Hang Prison, so as to better understand the life of persons in custody and the price they pay for committing crime. In addition, there are focus group activities and sharing sessions, making it a unique and meaningful community education event.
Addressing the launch ceremony, Mr Lai said that the CSD has been effectively utilising its facilities and resources in supporting the Government's policy to combat drug-related crimes committed by young people. Through experiential activities involving persons in custody, the department seeks to convey to young people the dire consequences of committing drug-related crimes, said Mr Lai. The CSD's rehabilitation programmes and publicity initiatives supporting offenders' rehabilitation have proved to be effective measures in reducing crime, he added. Since beginning of this year Ma Hang Prison has been progressively transformed into a multi-purpose training base. Principal Officer of the CSD who is in charge of "The Reflective Path" programme pointed out that, "Five trial runs have been carried out in Ma Hang Prison since May this year. Critical evaluation has been conducted on the content and detailed arrangements immediately after each trial run to strive for excellence. " As the programme is new, the department has to assess whether the sessions can enable young people, especially those who are visiting the correctional institution for the first time, to understand the criminal justice system in Hong Kong, and become aware of the detrimental consequences of committing crimes.
The CSD launched the RPP in September 2008. Through a series of diverse community education events including educational talks, visits to the Correctional Services Department Museum, the Green Haven Scheme, extended training camps, a drama and music performance of "Creation and Rehabilitation", student forums, meetings with persons in custody and "The Reflective Path", the department seeks to disseminate to young people the messages of leading a law-abiding, drug-free life and supporting the rehabilitation of offenders. Since November 2012, RPP activities have been accepted as approved "Other Learning Experiences" under the New Senior Secondary Curriculum.
CSD in popular media[edit]
- TVB drama series Tomorrow Is Another Day was filmed with the full co-operation of the CSD who allowed the film crew to film and access to Stanley and other prisons.
References[edit]
External links[edit]
Media related to Hong Kong Correctional Services at Wikimedia Commons
- Correctional Services Department (English)
- Correctional Services Department (traditional Chinese (HK))
- Correctional Services Department (simplified Chinese)
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