Rehabilitation, Recidivism and Reintegration: An Examination of Singapore's Penal System for Drug Offenders

Abstract

Singapore has the third highest prisoners-per-population rate among advanced economies, due largely to a strict stance on drug-related crimes. An earlier case study detailed the evolution of Singapore’s ‘war on drugs’.

The case study begins with a brief statistical overview of Singapore’s prison population, with an emphasis on drug offenders. This case study will also give an introduction to the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) and its key partners, as well as their incarceration, rehabilitation, and reintegration frameworks. It includes a discussion on a distinctive feature of halfway care in Singapore: the heavy involvement of religious groups and community organizations. The final section discusses prisoner reentry, where state concern is focused on preventing reoffending and successful ‘reintegration’, of which a core aspect relates to the employment of ex-offenders.