Families of offenders to get more immediate support and information at State Courts
Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon launched family-connect@State Courts on Friday (Nov 24) at Saca’s Appreciation Night held at Hilton Singapore hotel. TODAY file photo.
SINGAPORE – From January next year, family members of offenders who have just been sentenced to jail will be able to get information on prison procedures or referrals to social services through staff and trained volunteers stationed at the State Courts.
Under a new initiative called family-connect@State Courts, staff and trained volunteers from the Singapore After-Care Association (Saca) will serve as the first point-of-contact for family members of those facing imprisonment.
They will sit in for court sessions and approach families after a sentence has been meted out to offer assistance, said a Saca spokesperson.
The State Courts handle about 99 per cent of Singapore’s criminal cases.
A booth will be set up at on the ground floor of the State Courts two days of the week — Mondays and Wednesdays, tentatively — and operate from 10am to 2pm. Family members may approach the staff and volunteers at the booth. They may seek information on prison procedures and aspects of prison life.
They may also seek referrals to social agencies for financial assistance or support for young and school-going children. Referrals may also be made to eldercare agencies if there are elderly dependents.
Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon launched family-connect@State Courts on Friday (Nov 24) at Saca’s Appreciation Night held at Hilton Singapore hotel.
Through Saca’s Initiative for Incarcerated Mothers & Affected Children, the charity realised many families needed help and support, said its director Prem Kumar.
“That being so, it makes sense to reach out and offer help to these families upstream at the point of sentencing rather than wait until the loved-one is in prison,” said Mr Kumar.
There are “comprehensive” resources for families of offenders and the initiative aims to have available help offered in a timely manner to families who need it.
Families of first-time offenders are likely to benefit more from the initiative as they are more likely to be unfamiliar with the criminal justice system and prison administrative processes, said Mr Kumar.
Family members often face anxiety and stress as they may not know what to expect once their loved ones are sent to prison, said a spokesperson from the State Courts and Saca.
“The stability of the home during the period of the offender’s incarceration will play an important role in his or her reintegration upon release from prison,” added the spokesperson.
The initiative will be piloted from the third week of January till June next year.
