Support for Post-Release Inmates to Enhance Familial Ties
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the support provided to help released inmates rebuild familial ties with their young children, as raised by Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong. Minister for Social and Family Development Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M highlighted that Family Resource Centres provide social assistance and referrals to community resources. Social service agencies deliver structured programs involving joint parent-child activities and open visits, while the Strengthening Families Programme@Family Service Centres provides counseling during and post-incarceration. These family-centric initiatives aim to improve relationship skills and confidence, while ex-offenders may also attend community-led Families for Life parenting programs after their release to further strengthen ties.
Transcript
28 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what programmes and support does the Ministry or other social service agencies provide to help prison inmates improve familial ties with their young children once released back to society; and (b) if no programmes currently exist, whether the Ministry will consider developing one.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) work closely to support inmates and their families during their incarceration as strong family support is key to promoting long-term desistance.
For example, SPS has Family Resource Centres (FRCs) that are located at Prison Link Centre (Changi), where families have visits with their loved ones. The FRC was set up by SPS in 2006 to provide interim social assistance to inmates and their families. Trained social workers from FRC help to assess the inmates' and their families' needs and refer them to Family Service Centres (FSCs), Social Service Agencies (SSAs) or other community resources for longer-term support, as needed. The social workers are mindful to take a family-centric approach when supporting inmates and their families, including the importance of addressing family relationship issues at hand.
There are also structured family programmes delivered in prison by SSAs, such as The Salvation Army and New Life Stories. These programmes help to increase inmates' knowledge, skills and confidence in maintaining ties and building stronger relationships with their family members. During the programmes, parent-children joint activities and open visits are facilitated by the SSA workers.
Counselling support is also provided by the Strengthening Families Programme@Family Service Centres, both during and post incarceration. Such counselling can help offenders and their families navigate marital and parent-child relationship issues. After their release, ex-offenders can also continue to strengthen their parenting skills by attending the Families for Life parenting programmes that are offered by community agencies to all Singaporeans.