COR160

Essential Academic Writing Skills

Tutor-Marked Assignment 02

January 2016 Semester

Submitted by

Pang Jun Jie (Z1610565)

 THE CASE FOR REFORMATIVE TRAINING FOR YOUND OFFENDERS

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

when sentencing young offenders in Singapore.

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,

“Reformative training incorporates a significant element of deterrence because there is a

minimum incarceration period of 18 months” (Conference on At-Risk Youth, 2015). The

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

component in the rehabilitation of these offenders.

But some might argue that these youths should be treated like adult. Firstly, sending youths to an

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

(Keshvani, 1997). As such, treating youth offenders as adults is a counterproductive strategy.

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

offender lacks self-discipline.

In conclusion, while any criminal should be liable for his crime, it is important that in the case of

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

results of reformative training and fine tune it if necessary.

 References

CHILDREN IN PRISON. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2016, from http://www.eji.org/childrenprison

Chong Han Rui v Public Prosecutor [2016] SGHC 25. (2016, February 26). Retrieved March 24, 2016, from
http://www.singaporelaw.sg/sglaw/laws-of-singapore/case-law/free-law/high-court-
judgments/18371-chong-han-rui-v-public-prosecutor

Conference on At-Risk Youth 2015: Achieving, Connecting and Thriving. (2015, November 3). Retrieved
March 25, 2016, from
http://www.supremecourt.gov.sg/Data/Editor/Documents/Achieving_Connecting_and_Thriving
_031115.pdf

Keshvani, N. (1997, June). Changi Prison - The Inside Story (Electronic version). Police Life Monthly .
Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.keshvani.com/print/features/changi.htm

Kwa, B. (2015, July 7). Former RTC inmate recalls culture of “one-upmanship” among inmates. Retrieved
March 24, 2016, from https://sg.news.yahoo.com/former-rtc-inmate-recalls-culture-
050240852.html

Pao, P. P. (2007, October 31). Public Prosecutor v Mohammad Al-Ansari bin Basri [2008] 1 SLR 449;
[2007] SGHC 187. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.singaporelaw.sg/sglaw/laws-of-
singapore/case-law/free-law/high-court-judgments/13336-public-prosecutor-v-mohammad-al-
ansari-bin-basri-2008-1-slr-449-2007-sghc-187

Rehabilitation. (2014, July 30). Retrieved march 24, 2016, from http://app.msf.gov.sg/NYGR/Our-
Programmes/Rehabilitation

Sayadi, S. (2012, July 19). A Taste of Life in a Reformative Training Centre. Retrieved March 25, 2016,
from https://www.hometeam.sg/article.aspx?news_sid=20120716Oic2TgQZlz0O

Scott, G. (2012, June 5). Prison Is Too Violent for Young Offenders. The New York Times. Retrieved March
26, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/06/05/when-to-punish-a-young-
offender-and-when-to-rehabilitate/prison-is-too-violent-for-young-offenders

Teh, J. L. (2009, February 18). Isolation first for new RTC inmates (Electronic Version). The Straits Times.
Retrieved March 24, 2016, from
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20090216-122333.html

Willis, K. (2013, February 20). 'I was a teenager from hell': Uncontrollable tearaway reveals how getting
locked up saved her (Electronic version). Retrieved March 26, 2016, from
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/going-young-offenders-institute-saved-1718668