Prisons Dept takes steps to reduce overcrowding and recidivism

The Prisons Department is implementing reform measures, aimed, among others, at reducing overcrowding and recidivism in all prisons, including Sungai Buloh Prison.

In a statement today, the department said among the efforts taken to increase capacity and reduce prison overcrowding include installing bunk beds for the use of prisoners in cells and prison dormitories.

"(The department will also) will cooperate with the courts to speed up trials, and refocus on community rehabilitation programmes that currently involve 82,487 prisoners and with only a recidivism rate of 0.24 percent.

"The rehabilitation programme also involves a number of convicted prisoners housed in Sungai Buloh Prison," said the department, adding that former National Service Training Programme sites will also be used as resident reintegration centre and satellite prison.

The department is also studying the use of EMD (electronic monitoring device) for low-risk remand prisoners to avoid them being held in prisons.

"Through the measures that have been taken, the problem of overcrowding experienced by prisoners in Sungai Buloh has been reduced," said the department, adding that measures to reduce congestion will continue with the cooperation of various agencies. - Mkini