Inmates May Now Upgrade Skills Outside Jail for Future Employment Under Proposed Prisons Bill

Singapore's Prisons (Amendment) Bill has been introduced for first reading in Parliament on Nov. 1. The bill proposes amendments to the Prisons Act to enhance community corrections and facilitate the Singapore Prison Service's (SPS) operations and administration.

The bill will introduce the Employment Preparation Scheme (EmPS) to replace the Work Release Scheme and allow persons deprived of liberty or inmates to go through skills training and education, as well as work in the community. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs on the same day, the EmPS shall enhance the employability of inmates so they can secure a job after being released from prison and reintegrate back into the community.

Inmates shall be assessed by the SPS to determine their suitability for the EmPS. Suitable inmates may be emplaced on the EmPS at the tail end of their sentence, which includes three phases: in-camp phase, weekend home leave phase, and long home leave phase.

To read about the key amendments to the Prisons Act, go here.