Role of a Prison Volunteer

Rehabilitation Framework

To help us achieve our Vision and Mission, a new rehabilitation framework was developed in 2000. We believe that rehabilitation should be complete and thorough - starting from the time he is admitted to the time he is released. Hence, Prisons rehabilitation framework comprises 3 components: in-care, halfway care and aftercare.

In-care rehabilitation is divided into 4 key phases: admission, deterrence, treatment and pre-release phase. During admission, inmates are classified according to their security risks and rehabilitation needs. An initial Personal Route Map or PRM will be charted based on these needs and it will record and monitor the programme that the inmate will go through during his incarceration.

Why do we want to engage volunteers in our rehabilitation efforts?

The need to harness the support of the community towards the rehabilitation and re-integration of offenders is clearly encapsulated in Prisons' vision statement "We will be instrumental in steering them towards being responsible citizens, with the help of their families and the community".

With limited resources, Prisons recognises that the community including volunteers and non-Government organisations have an important role to play in the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders. Volunteers bring with them their expertise in the various fields and impart their knowledge to the inmates through the various religious and social programmes / activities. Being in the community, the volunteers can also help to link the released offenders back to the community, and helping to facilitate the reintegration process.

Where does the volunteer fit in the process?

Prison volunteers come in to work with the inmates, in the area of religious counselling, social programmes, family focused programmes, academic and enrichment programmes right from the deterrence phase. Volunteers are also involved in mentoring and guiding the released inmates in the aftercare phase.