Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing Research Higher Education and Prison Partnerships in Singapore Andrew Day Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing

Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing Research

Higher Education and Prison Partnerships in

Singapore Andrew Day

Centre for Mental Health and WellbeingDeakin University

and

Jasmin KaurSingapore Prison Service

Paper for the 9th Reintegration Puzzle Conference August 2013


Aims

To outline a long standing partnership between Singapore Prison Service and Deakin University which has centred on a range of projects including:

• staff training and supervision, • program evaluation, • development of a range of measures,including the Reintegration Potential Index.


Context

• Singapore’s population, 5 million.• A relatively new country, which became

independent only in 1965 when it separated from the Federation of Malaysia after a long period of British rule.

• Singaporean criminal justice system has a strong British colonial legacy, and Singapore courts interpret the legal codes in much the same way as occurs in any system of common law.

• Reputation for punitive justice system.


Commitment to Rehabilitation

The last 10 years has witnessed a major focus on rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders. E.g.,

• development of a mission statement that privileges rehabilitation.

• the restructuring of prison housing units.

• changes in the role and function of custodial staff, and engagement with the community.

• commitment to evidence based practice in offender rehabilitation.


Chua Chin Kiat, an ex-director of the Singapore Prison Service…

The Prison Vision.

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


“Our mission is to get criminals out of prison”

“We’re trained to look for the sparkle, not just the flaw”

“Help unlock the second prison”

“The road to acceptance”


Strategies (Leo, 2013)

• employ established risk/needs tools that guide a case management system with rehabilitation pathways based on the assessed risk of re-offence.

• develop a suite of offending behaviour programs and commit to program evaluation.

• develop the capabilities of correctional workers.

• develop a throughcare and reintegration framework to mobilise the community, and sets up a network of community providers and agencies to support prisoners following their release.


Partnering with the community in offender reintegration: the CARE network

• a formal structure within which key government and nongovernment agencies work together toward offender re-entry back into the community.

• Through the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE), offenders are offered vocational training and work programs in market-relevant industries.


Partnering with the community in offender reintegration: the Yellow Ribbon Project

An annual campaign aimed at promoting community support for giving offenders a “second chance.” Aims to:• Create awareness of giving second

chances to ex-offenders; • Generate acceptance of ex-offenders

and their families in the community; • Inspire community action to support

rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders.


• Between 2004 and 2009, nearly 2 million yellow ribbons were distributed, more than 300,000 Singaporeans participated in events, and more than 800 new employers registered to provide employment opportunities to ex-offenders (Soh, 2010).

• Attracts extensive media coverage and is launched with a series of televised and printed advertisements.

• Inmates and ex-offenders participate widely in activities (e.g., arts and concerts).


Collaboration with Deakin UniversityObjectives :

• to establish competent local research capabilities.

• provide training and promote research interest amongst staff.

• identify and spearhead specialised training to build staff capabilities in critical areas.


Specific projects

• Provide training for SPS rehabilitation staff.• Clinical supervision of psychologists.• To evaluate identified programs and

supervise evaluation studies conducted by SPS staff.

• To consult regarding regime enhancement in a Changi Prison Housing Unit.

• Norm and validate the Level of Service/Case Management Inventory on the local prison population.

• Develop an assessment tool to measure the reintegration potential of adult offenders.


Training (Yr 1: Dr Sharon Casey)Face-to-face training 2011-2012

1-day Foundations in Forensic Psychology (n = 40)

1-day Program Evaluation Workshop (2 x n = 20 per session)

2-day GLM Workshop (2 x n = 40 per session)

2-day Sex Offender Workshop (n = 20)

2-day Violent Offender Workshop (n = 20)

1-day Case Formulation Workshop (n = 20)

2-day Child Interviewing Workshop (n = 40)

1-day Research Forum (n = 40)

1-day Substance Abuse Workshop (2 x n = 20 per session)

2-day Juvenile Offender Workshop (n = 20)

1-day Principles of Program Development and Evaluation (2 x n=20 per session)


Website…

Welcome to the Foundations of Offender Rehabilitation Online Training PackageThis resource has been prepared to provide professional who work in criminal justice settings with the knowledge and skills that they need to work effectively with the wide variety of clients they may be encounter in their work. This includes knowledge and particular groups of offenders, such as violent offenders, young offenders, or those with substance use problems, and skills in assessment, case formulation and intervention. The content of the training is divided into specific content areas or topics, with each topic containing a study guide, narrated powerpoint lecture, additional resources, and an assessment. Work through each of the topics carefully and then complete the assessment at the end. Simply move to the next topic once you have passed the assessment. There is no recommended order for completing each topic, although it is suggested that you begin with the first topic, Foundations. We also recommend that you read the book, Foundations of Offender Rehabilitation, which has been written to support this training.

Reference: Casey, S., Day, A., Ward, T., & Vess, J. (2012). Foundations of Offender Rehabilitation. Oxford: Routledge Publishing.


The Reintegration Potential Index

Aims to identify a method by which the reintegration needs of prisoners can be reliably assessed.

Helps with throughcare planning and post-release support.


Self-report scale

Section 1: About Myself (psychological distress and psychological flexibility)Section 2: About My Family and Friends (intrapersonal and interpersonal protective factors that promote healthy adjustment and adult resilience)Section 3: About Living in the Community (satisfaction with standard of living, health, life achievement, personal relationships, personal safety, community-connectedness, and future security) Section 4: About Getting Ready for Work (four work readiness factors: organisational acumen, social intelligence, personal characteristics, and work competence (Section 5: About Getting into Trouble (Offending). (dynamic risk -pro-criminal attitudes, associates, and antisocial personality)


Preliminary Validation

Pilot validation of the 120-item tool was undertaken with data collected from an initial cohort (n = 188) from the newly established pre-release centre (B4) and a sample of exiting prisoners (n = 452).


Factor analysis – 38 item final measure

• Factor I, Work Aptitude - 19 items that reflect the skills and personal competencies necessary to enhance a successful transition into the workforce following release from prison.

• Factor II, Social Support - 10 items that describe the absence of conflict and positive support from family and friends that serve to enhance resiliency.

• Factor III, Criminal Influence -5 items that reflect the importance of pro-social family and friends in maintaining an offence-free lifestyle.

• Factor IV, Mental Health - 4 items that measure the importance of mental health and well-being.


Sample items… Social support scale

My family sticks together well

Our family is loyal to each other

I get support from friends/family members

My close friends/family appreciate my qualities

I feel very happy with my family

I’m informed quickly if a family member has a crisis

My family keeps a positive outlook in difficult periods

Me and my family understand things similarly

The bonds among my friends are strong

I enjoy being with other people


Changes over time

RPI Pre- and Post-Test Descriptive Statistics, t-values, effect sizes and confidence intervals (N = 142)

I tem Pre-Test Post-Test

M SD M M SD t d 95% C-I

Work Aptitude 72.19 9.29 75.73 7.04 -3.75*** .41 -5.41 - -1.67

Social Support 38.19 6.21 40.36 5.77 -2.96** .33 -3.62 – -0.72

Criminal Influence 16.37 3.90 16.44 4.13 -.15 .02 -1.03 – 0.89

Mental Health 9.13 2.95 13.74 3.93 -11.09*** 1.98 -5.43 – -3.79.32

Total RPI 135.88 15.24 142.79 12.77 -4.12*** .92 -10.22 - -3.60


Next step…

• Need to look at predictive validity.

i.e., do these score relate to subsequent success in the community??


Some observationsDifficult issues commonly experienced incollaborative endeavours include:• trust (defining characteristic of all

successful partnerships)• defining shared aims (explicit statement

of shared vision, based on jointly held values)

• the management of power (ensuring there are the resources and support structures necessary to sustain initial partnership formation)

• communication (clear distinction between individual and collective responsibilities, and clear lines of accountability).


Some conclusions

• Generally a successful model.• Driven by industry needs (rather than

academic).• Progress slower than anticipated at times

(e.g., data collection for program evaluation studies).

• Outcomes not always as easy to assess (e.g. program evaluation). Evidence based practice not always easy to achieve.

• $$$ and sustainability.• Capacity of the organisation– relies on

a concerted effort from research staff in SPS??


Questions/ comments?

Documents

Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing Research Higher Education and Prison Partnerships in Singapore Andrew Day Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing