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SCMP Reporter

MORE voluntary service work is been given to young probationers to help them get closer to the public and integrate into society when they are released.

  Officials believe that voluntary work such as flag-selling and painting the homes of elderly people should not be limited to academically strong and well-behaved students. It should also be available to young offenders who want to start a new life.

  They said social service would give the offenders a chance to contribute to society, and most importantly, to build their confidence to reintegrate into the community.

  Social Welfare Department senior social work officer (Corrections) Lu Tak-ming said it had been the department's policy to give offenders a second chance.

  Offenders aged 16 or below were usually detained in a boys' or girls' home administered by the department from six to nine months.

  During that time, they would be given some remedial education programmes. Pre-vocational training, academic study and behavioural guidance are also provided.

  ''However, we found that all this training was not enough. The inmates who behaved well in our homes had difficulties integrating into society. Some of them failed to get support from their families and friends and they finally went astray again,'' said Mr Lu.

  ''In a bid to help them re-join the community, we started encouraging them to do voluntary work two years ago. We hope the offenders, through helping others, can get closer to the public and build up a sense of belonging to society.''   Mr Lu said many people were unwilling to give offenders a second chance, believing they would commit a crime again.

  He said some offenders were unable to find a job, and failing to get support from their families, turned to the world of vice again.

  ''All projects are voluntary. We just tell them there will be such and such projects or competitions that they can participate in.

  ''With the help of case-workers and outside volunteers, the inmates come together and create a project themselves.''   However, sometimes the young offenders have to bear more pressure than others in taking up voluntary jobs.

  ''I remember when we were helping a voluntary group to sell flags, one of our inmates was stopped and questioned by police who did not believe that a boy who once broke the law would actually do voluntary work.

  ''But it is through this contact that the public will come to understand our boys and girls, who are kind-hearted and keen to contribute to the community,'' Mr Lu said.

  There are seven homes for young probationers or behavioural children under the Social Welfare Department. These are the Ma Tau Wai Girls' Home, O Pui Shan Boys' Home, Begonia Road Boys' Home, Castle Peak Boys' Home, Pui Chi Boys' Home, Pui Yin Juvenile Home and Kwun Tong Hostel.



Giving offenders a second chance