“We aspire to be captains in the lives of offenders committed to our custody.
 We will be instrumental in steering them towards being responsible citizens
with the help of their families and the community.
 We will thus build a secure and exemplary prison system.”

The Prisons Department has come a long way since the vision was first adopted by senior managment in 1999. This is changing the way we operate and the way the community perceives us.

We believe that every Prison officer needs to work with the wider community of volunteers, support groups and employers to deliver effective rehabilitation programmes to our inmates.

Ultimately, Captains of Lives is built on three principles: Rehab, Renew, Restart.

• Rehab is a commitment to our programmes and counsellors within the system to support inmates who have proven that they want and are able to change.
• Renew is a commitment an inmate makes to change his/her life for the better. Looking beyond their imprisonment, they demonstrate a willingness and desire to renew their lives.
• Restart is a commitment to garner the support of the community. Through the CARE Network, our offenders are given the opportunity to restart their lives.

Our Mission Statement

Partner in Criminal Justice
Our work with offenders helps to ensure that Singapore is kept safe. Being part of the Criminal Justice System, we work very closely with the Judiciary and our other partner agencies in the Home Team.

Protecting Society through Safe Custody & Rehabilitation
The role of keeping offenders in custody is just a part of what we do. We are also committed to performing our duties in a humane manner, managed by a strict regimen of discipline and effective rehabilitation programmes.

We are committed to offering offenders the opportunity to reform, while helping them to learn the skills necessary for their re-integration. To realise this goal, we also work closely with their families and the community.

Prevention and Aftercare
Our daily contact with inmates will enable us to gather valuable information which may be used to detect or prevent crime. As such, we are able to assist other lead agencies in the Home Team, for example the Singapore Police Force, in crime detection and prevention. In addition, we provide aftercare services to offenders upon their release from our custody, by directing them to community programmes and resources that could support them.

Education for youths and children at risk of drug abuse or crime is vital to our efforts in keeping Singapore safe. We conduct programmes about crime and its penalties, that reach out to the larger community.

Core Values
Every Prison Officer is inspired by our Core Values which is based on HEART, to commit to our Vision and Mission:

• Honour our vision by placing it above self-interest and inspiring others to our cause.
• Excel in our work because we care enough to want to be the best.
• Be Agile by being innovative and open to new possibilities, overcoming adversity through continuous learning.
• Respect our fellow colleagues and the community we come into contact with.
• Foster Teamwork by coaching, guiding and inspiring one another in our workplace.

Last updated on 1 Mar 2008