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Individuals incarcerated for various criminal offences other than drug-related ones, and housed in prison facilities known as "Clusters".

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Stands for Drug Rehabilitation Centres. Individuals convicted of drug-related offences are placed here.

There are DRC1, DRC2, DRC3 and DRC4 facilities, classified from lower offences (1) to serious cases (4). Duration of stay is also tiered with the longest 2 years and above placed at DRC4.

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2 phases are looked at for offenders.

Rehabilitation or InCare (Prison) - convicts face a deterrence period for self-reflection on their crime, followed by a developmental period to upskill and better themselves.

Pre-Release - this is under InCare but is more of an in-between stage to AfterCare where the inmate is prepped through a number of programmes for AfterCare.

Reintegration phase or AfterCare - convicts are introduced to structured supervision e.g. Community-Based Programmes (e.g. Halfway Houses) for assimilation back into society.

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Prison developed an approach to help reduce re-offending by starting support from InCare that continues to AfterCare.

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Much has been offered to offenders during InCare and AfterCare with many programmes during their time in Prison as well as in the community.

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Aftercare: Community Based Programmes (CBP)

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Aftercare: Community Based Programmes (CBP)

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Surviving or thriving? Ex-offenders in Singapore face mixed realities post-incarceration

Ex-offenders who did their time learning to use Singpass, PayNow, and apps to catch up with the times

'Looks more like army bunk': Netizens divided over room partition in Joint Singles Scheme Operator-Run flats

"Prison Without Guards" Concept

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There are InCare programs that help offenders get a diploma or certificate to prepare them for work or some with prior degrees. But when they finish their prison term it is still hard for them to find work as employers look at the crimes they committed. Those related to children or financial fraud will never be hired in settings like preschools/schools or financial institutes such as banks (white-collar work).

This reality has caused some to accept low-paying jobs such as cleaners, cooks, or the gig economy (blue-collar work), which may ultimately, lead to re-offending when they are unable to sufficiently provide for themselves or their immediate family/children due to the high cost of living.

That being said through the Yellow Ribbon Project more employers are willing to work with ex-offenders, offering them jobs and opportunities to advance in their careers through training and education. However, employers will still determine how suitable a job is for the ex-offender, especially when it comes to their past crimes.

There needs to be more public awareness that ex-offenders are also human and have families to raise. To give them 2nd chances in life.

As of 1 November 2024, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) released a report to address key challenges in manpower, land, and regulations. One of the recommendations is to consider reviewing policies that restrict ex-offenders from working in certain job roles so that Singapore can better utilise untapped labour pools and increase workforce capacity and resilience. This includes positions such as drivers or cleaners in high-security areas such as Jurong Island and Changi Airport.

This is possibly due to Singapore's low birth rate and high ageing population.

If the government takes up this recommendation by MTI it might mean more and perhaps better-paying jobs for ex-offenders.

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The recidivism rate is the tendency of previously incarcerated individuals to be re-arrested, reconvicted, or reincarcerated after being released.

Two-Year Recidivism Rate: This rate often captures more immediate patterns of reoffending, reflecting short-term influences such as reintegration challenges, social support, and initial adjustments to life after incarceration.

Five-Year Recidivism Rate: This rate provides a broader perspective on recidivism, capturing long-term trends and the impact of factors like ongoing support, stability in employment, and other life changes that can affect an individual's likelihood of reoffending over a longer period.

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Ex-offenders with supportive families can stay with them, however, some have parents who have passed on or are estranged from their family and relatives as such they need to find housing on their own but might not be able to afford purchasing a flat due to low-income.

There are public rental units they can apply, but for singles, they fall under the joint singles scheme needing to find another person to stay with. This is an issue due to sharing a place with someone they might be unfamiliar or worst they cannot get along for one reason or another.

To address this, the government has launched the Joint Singles Scheme Operator-Run flats, this pilot allows singles to apply for rental housing without first having to find a flatmate. Instead, tenants will be assigned flatmates by the operator, taking into consideration each person's profile, preferences and living habits. However, to date, all these flats are currently filled and there are no longer any vacancies left. More might have to be built to address such needs.

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Support is important for ex-offenders especially those who have been in prison for more than 3 years and find a different Singapore when they come out, needing to be guided on how to find work, housing or buying provisions in a country that is now mostly digital.

Support is needed as well to journey with the ex-offenders when it comes to job stress over time or even for those who have no family to turn to. Research has shown that there is a correlation between a decrease in job retention and an increase in the recidivism rate (after 2 years).

There is a gap when it comes to such long-term AfterCare support, however much has been done through the introduction of the Desistors Network a collaborative initiative between the Singapore Prison Service and its community partners to support ex-offenders in their journey towards desistance and successful reintegration into the community after their release.

This initiative aims to have successful ex-offenders be equipped to give back to the community. Even the ISCOS Titans are examples of ex-offenders guiding others who just come out of Prison.

The Singapore Prison recognising this has introduced a "Prison Without Walls" initiative that includes "Captain of Lives" officers that aims to help ex-offenders rehabilitate and reintegrate even beyond the prison walls (beyond the completion of their prison term). Captains of Lives serve as mentors, coaches and role models to those under their charge.

The purpose is to prevent re-offending and ensure the success of ex-offendings in integrating back into society.

Further to this, Corrections 2025 is an initiative by the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) aimed at further advancing the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders within the Singapore correctional system. Building on the foundation laid by Corrections 2015, this initiative focuses on several key areas:

1. Enhanced Rehabilitation Programs: Corrections 2025 emphasizes the development of more tailored and evidence-based rehabilitation programs that address the specific needs of different offender groups, including those with mental health issues, substance abuse problems, and varying risk levels.

2. Integration of Technology: The initiative aims to leverage technology to improve the efficiency of correctional operations and the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts. This includes the use of data analytics to track inmate progress and outcomes.

3. Community Engagement: There is a strong focus on fostering community involvement in the rehabilitation process. This includes partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community groups to support ex-offenders in their reintegration journey.

4. Holistic Support Systems: Corrections 2025 promotes a comprehensive approach that includes not only prison-based rehabilitation but also aftercare services that continue once individuals are released. This aims to provide ongoing support to reduce recidivism.

5. Focus on Desistance: The initiative recognizes the importance of understanding and supporting the factors that lead to desistance from crime. This includes promoting positive changes in offenders' mindsets and behaviours.

6. Capacity Building for Staff: Continued professional development and training for correctional staff is emphasized to equip them with the skills necessary to support rehabilitation and manage diverse inmate populations effectively.

Overall, Corrections 2025 reflects Singapore’s commitment to evolving its correctional practices, with a strong focus on rehabilitation, community integration, and the use of innovative solutions to promote public safety and reduce recidivism rates.

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Singapore since 2013 has faced low-births, high divorce rates as well as a large ageing population. As such, there will be a future lack of manpower.

This will mean that in the future, there will be a lack of manpower in Singapore Prisons, especially Prison officers. To prepare for this, Prisons have introduced "Prisons Without Guards," an initiative to leverage technology to relieve officers from mundane and routine activities so that they can be reassigned to higher-order work, such as engaging inmates to help chart out their rehabilitation programs.

There is even an introduction of an intelligent dispensing machine, which allows inmates to purchase canteen items by matching their identity with their weekly allowance and frees officers from needing to manually collect inmates' purchase orders.

Technology has not been fully utilized especially where AI is concerned and more can be done to alleviate other routine tasks by officers in order that they can do more to ensure the successful transition of the inmates into society and with their families.

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As our population grows older, with many in the 60s, so it is with Prison where there is a rise in "silver criminals", people offending in their senior years or going back to prison in their early 60s, where after serving their term (e.g. 3 years), are in mid 60s.

But already with no support of family, employers don't have to hire them cause of their old age, and very little for them to gain in education, they find committing crime again no big deal, e.g. getting high on drugs is worth it even if go back prison.

This is a gap and cannot be easily solved by the government. Where more must be done by SPS and the community in reaching out to these seniors to give them more support to integrate back into society and remain out.

Another added element is that the government has to retrofit the prison to cater to the more senior in age.