Update on Review into Criminal Justice System for Youths
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the status of the youth criminal justice system review and whether the threshold age under the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) will be raised from 16 to 18. Ms Sylvia Lim asked for updates on the 2015 review and factors delaying the government’s conclusions on the matter. Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee stated that a 2017 committee recommended increasing the age limit and the government is currently working through this as part of a wider CYPA review. He explained that the system uses gradated intervention and diversionary programs to hold youths accountable while minimizing disruptions to their education and development. For youths who are not diverted, community-based sentences like probation and mandatory treatment are utilized to provide tailored rehabilitation.
Transcript
54 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the status of the review into the Criminal Justice System for Youths started in October 2015; (b) whether the Government has decided on raising the threshold age under the Children and Young Persons Act from 16 to 18; and (c) what are the pending issues that have delayed the Government's conclusions on this matter.
Mr Desmond Lee: In October 2015, the Attorney-General's Chambers chaired an interagency committee to review the youth justice system. The committee made several recommendations in February 2017, including working towards increasing the age limit under the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA), to allow youths aged 16 to below 18 to benefit from a wider range of sentencing options.
The Government is working through the recommendations, as part of the wider review of CYPA.
CYPA is one component of the youth justice system. Youth justice in Singapore, as a whole, is premised on gradated intervention. Our approach is to divert youth offenders, including those aged between 16 and 18, away from the Court wherever possible. Placing youth offenders on diversionary programmes outside the youth justice system allows them to be accountable for their actions and prevents disruption in other areas of development, such as education.
Operationally, the triage system sieves out and diverts suitable youths who have been arrested for minor offences. These youths are then referred to diversionary programmes, such as the Guidance Programme, Enhanced Streetwise, and Youth Enhanced Supervision. The parents of the youths are actively involved in the programmes, which are also offered to youths aged above 16. The intent is to help the youths develop better self-control and make better decisions.
Youth offenders who are not diverted are assessed for suitability to be placed on probation. Probation focuses on community-based rehabilitation and the Court may order accompanying conditions, depending on the needs of the youth offenders. For example, a probationer may be given a curfew or be ordered to reside in a hostel. The State Court may also order other community-based sentences, such as mandatory treatment for mental health conditions, regular reporting to a centre and community service.