Should Youths in Singapore Who Commit Serious Crime Be Sent For Reformative Training or Be Jailed Like Adult Criminals?
Should Youths in Singapore Who Commit Serious Crime Be Sent For Reformative Training or Be Jailed Like Adult Criminals?
Should Youths in Singapore Who Commit Serious Crime Be Sent For Reformative Training or Be Jailed Like Adult Criminals?
Tutor-Marked Assignment 02
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In a bid to improve discipline and habituate new trainees for the regimented routine in
Reformative Training Centre (RTC), all newcomers now spend their first two weeks in a solitude
cell, about the size of two ping-pong tables (Teh, 2009). They are seldom let out of their cell, but
exception is made for morning foot drills and consultation with psychologists and RTC
supervisors (Teh, 2009). This measure seems to have made a positive impact on a 20 year old
trainee, who was arrested for smoking cannabis. According to Teh, the isolation gave the
wayward adolescence time to self-reflect about the repercussion of his action and he “realised
there was no one to be angry at but myself” (2009). Currently RTC houses young offenders
between the ages of 14-21 for a period of 18 to 36 months (Rehabilitation, 2014). The positive
effects of reformative training on youths are laudable and crucial to their rehabilitation into law-
abiding citizens. As such, reformative training should continue to remain a top consideration
Firstly, when a judge passes a sentence on a young offender, one of the focal point of his
decision is deterrence (Pao, 2007). As Singapore’s Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon noted,
deterrence effect can be seen clearly from the numerous cases where the offenders have pleaded
for probation instead of reformative training (Pao, 2007). This helps to send a serious message
across to the public and potential offenders that crimes will not be tolerated, even if it was
committed by those under the age of 21. Most trainees pointed out that the lack of freedom and
being away from their love ones were the most unforgiving aspects of reformative training
(Sayadi, 2012). In the United Kingdom, a similar policy is in place whereby the offenders are
placed in a Young Offenders Institution (YOI) (C1). According to Katie Walden, who was sent
to a YOI for committing arson, the five months she spent inside was “the best thing for me”
(Willis, 2013). Indeed it can be observed that the possibility of being send to a RTC provides a
strong deterrence to the public and also to the offender against repeating his criminal act again.
Secondly, reformative training provides a valuable opportunity to positively change the mindset
of a young offender. Former Chief Justice Yong had commented that as these offenders still lack
maturity in their thinking and decision making skills, there is a greater chance of “reforming
them into law-abiding adults” (Pao, 2007). Due to their age, they might not be able to clearly
differentiate between right or wrong or even fully comprehend the consequence of their actions.
More often than not, they are easily susceptible to bad influence (Pao, 2007). In RTC, the
trainees go through a routine of foot drills, religious counselling and vocational training
(Rehabilitation, 2014). Additionally, Sayadi remarked that eligible trainees are given the
opportunity to continue their studies at Tanah Merah Prison School (2012). RTC also runs a
voluntary Gang Renunciation Programme (GRP) and Tattoo Removal Project (Sayadi, 2012).
There is also a personal supervisor the trainees can approach for guidance and welfare related
matters (Kwa, 2015). All these programmes are designed to alter the mindset of the offender so
that he no longer desires to commit crime (Pao, 2007). As such, reformative training is a vital
adult correctional institute does little to benefit them. Scott observed that young inmates are
more prone to negative influences than adults (2012). An adult prison does not provide a helpful
environment for their development, and might instead lead to more severe negative behaviour
(Scott, 2012). Also, as they are still not independent, there will be a tendency for them to rely on
joining prison gangs for security (Scott, 2012). Research has shown that they face higher risk of
suicide and sexually abuse in an adult prison (CHILDREN IN PRISON). Although prisons now
offer rehabilitation programmes, these are gear more towards the needs of an adult than a child
Alternatively, some suggest that reformative training is too harsh as it carries with it a mandatory
incarceration period and should instead be replace with probation. Under the terms of probation,
an offender is required to comply with a series of conditions, such as curfew, reporting to the
probation officer and community services but is not required to serve time in detention (Pao,
2007). Thus the youth will still be able to carry on with his studies or work. The disadvantage
with probation is that although it serves the purpose of rehabilitation, it requires the offender to
adhere rigorously to the terms of his probation (Pao, 2007). An example of this was a case of an
offender who was convicted of rioting and sentenced to probation in January 2014. Less than a
month later, he was caught for underage smoking. Subsequently he was sent to the Singapore
Boys’ Hostel (SBH) for multiple breaches of his probation terms (Chong Han Rui v Public
Prosecutor, 2016). Probation simply does not work as effectively as reformative training if the
a young offender, emphasis is place on his rehabilitation. Sending him to an adult prison will not
provide him with the appropriate environment to repent and might instead, turn him into a harden
criminal. Yet at the same time, rehabilitation should not be taken to mean probation. It is vital to
send a strong deterrence message to the offender and public but probation lacks the teeth in
doing that. Reformative training seeks to solve this problem by providing a suitable middle
ground to ultimately reform the offender into a responsible member of society and send a
message to the general public that crime does not pay. There is no one size fits all solution to the
problem of young offenders, thus it is important for the authorities to continue to monitor the
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[2007] SGHC 187. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.singaporelaw.sg/sglaw/laws-of-
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Scott, G. (2012, June 5). Prison Is Too Violent for Young Offenders. The New York Times. Retrieved March
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offender-and-when-to-rehabilitate/prison-is-too-violent-for-young-offenders
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locked up saved her (Electronic version). Retrieved March 26, 2016, from
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