Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 2) | Page 37

Working with Various Client Groups

Dear Social Service Professionals,
Young Offenders
Many social service professionals are engaged in preventive and early
intervention services and programmes for at-risk youth. This is the right
focus. However, despite our efforts, there will be youths who run afoul of
the law and enter the criminal justice system. It is helpful to understand
how the system works and the role of social service professionals at various
points within the continuum of intervention and support for these youth and
their families.
Offenders under 16 years are tried in the Youth Court, which adopts a
different and highly rehabilitative approach in view of the young ages of
the offenders. The judges in the Youth Court are supported by a panel of
advisors (who are drawn from the community - principals, teachers, social
workers, psychologists and community leaders with a heart for youths).
These advisors attend case discussions with the Youth Court judge prior
to hearings, and sit with the judge during the hearings to offer their
perspectives. Where required, the judge may order the youth to attend
counselling or other forms of intervention. Pre-sentence probation reports
are ordered by the Court, and the youth and their family members would be
interviewed and guided by MSF’s 1 probation officers.
Offenders above 16 years old are tried as adults and follow the rules of court
for adults. Notwithstanding, younger offenders are given due consideration
of their circumstances. In most cases where the crime is not severe, the
rehabilitative approach applies. MSF’s probation officers would provide a
pre-sentence report that provides insight into the conduct and performance
of the youth in school, his/her interests, his/her family relationships and
other pertinent factors. A range of probation and community based
sentencing options, coupled with other interventions to help the youth and
his/her family, may be adopted. The youth’s interactions would largely be
with MSF’s probation officers.
In some other jurisdictions, a person under 18 is considered ‘a child’ and is
tried under a juvenile court regime. There have been calls for Singapore
to raise the age definition of the child to 18 for the same purpose. While
the idea may seem attractive, there are implications. The move could
undermine our deterrence of youth crime. It also opens up the possibility
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Ministry of Social and Family Development.
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