SPS said that inmates with drug antecedents – those with at least one prior drug conviction – were about three times more likely to reoffend than those without.
Repeat drug abusers also “typically had weak social support and faced challenges in building a strong support network after their discharge from the DRC into the community”, a 2021 SPS study found.
It was thus “crucial to increase the social and community capital of drug abusers within a throughcare ecosystem to support their successful rehabilitation and reintegration,” said the prison service.
SUPPORT REINTEGRATION, INCREASE EMPLOYABILITY
SPS works with Yellow Ribbon Singapore, community partners and volunteers to help with the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.
The prison service said it has been actively engaging and increasing its volunteer manpower over the years, from 2,400 volunteers in 2021 to over 4,200 in 2024.
Volunteers will be trained in SPS’ correctional work, including learning how to work with inmates, ex-offenders and their communities.
Yellow Ribbon Singapore also helps increase the employability of inmates and ex-offenders through skills training, career placement and career retention.
Last year, 3,973 inmates were trained, with an average of 102 training hours per person – a 28 per cent increase in training hours from 2023, said SPS.
This was due to longer and more comprehensive training programmes, as well as new courses in the food services and retail sectors, added the prison service.
The number of employers who support the hiring of ex-offenders increased from 6,516 in 2023 to 6,712 last year.
