Debated in Parliament on 3 Nov 2014.
Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) how can the Singapore Prison Service help in the rehabilitation of inmates with mental illness, such as the recent case of a mother with mental illness who was convicted for the death of her special-needs son; and (b) what are the circumstances under which inmates with mental illness may serve a sentence shorter than that originally imposed.
All inmates diagnosed with mental illnesses are seen regularly by prison psychiatrists. Those who are assessed to require dedicated treatment are housed in the psychiatric housing unit within the prison complex. This is run in partnership with the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). While there, inmates undergo a comprehensive treatment programme which includes therapy and counselling and is conducted by a multi-disciplinary team comprising prison officers, psychiatrists, psychologists and occupational therapists.
Inmates whose mental conditions are stable are housed with the general inmate population. They undergo a prison regime similar to other inmates, which includes rehabilitation programmes as well as work and education opportunities.
All inmates, including those with mental illnesses, are required to serve their sentences in full, with remission of up to one-third of the sentence length given for good behaviour. They may also be emplaced on community-based programmes and serve the tail-end of their sentence outside prison, if found suitable. Depending on the inmate's individual circumstances, the Singapore Prison Service may make aftercare arrangements with IMH or with VWOs to provide psychiatric treatment after the inmate’s release from prison.
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