Statistics on Children and Young Persons who Entered a Place of Safety from 2018 to 2021 and Subsequently Entered a Boys' Home, Girls' Home or Prison

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development from 2018 to 2021, of children and young persons who enter a place of safety as defined under the Children and Young Persons Act 1993, what is the annual number and percentage of them who subsequently enter (i) the Singapore Boys' Home or Singapore Girls' Home or (ii) prison, respectively.

Children and young persons (CYPs) in need of care or protection may be referred by MSF or ordered by the Youth Court to reside in a place of safety. MSF Youth Homes, namely the Singapore Boys' Home and Singapore Girls' Home, are also places of safety under the Children and Young Persons Act.

Table 1 provides the breakdown of such CYPs who subsequently offended and (i) entered MSF Youth Homes, or (ii) were imprisoned.

There is a higher proportion of CYPs who entered MSF Youth Homes as a place of safety, who subsequently offended and were imprisoned, compared to those in other places of safety. This is because such CYPs have higher risks and needs, displaying behaviours that could lead to offences requiring imprisonment.