Inmate Contact with Children during Incarceration, Recidivism Outcomes and Structured Intervention Programmes for Children of Incarcerated Parents

Mr Victor Lye asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Ministry has studied the long-term educational, employment and offending outcomes of children with incarcerated parents; and (b) whether there are structured intervention programmes to support children of incarcerated parents in schools and community settings to reduce downstream risks of trauma, delinquency or social disengagement.

International studies and research have shown that incarceration significantly destabilises the family in the immediate term, and that family support plays a key role in helping ex-offenders reintegrate back into society and remain offence-free.

To support families impacted by incarceration, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) works closely with the Singapore Prison Service (SPS), the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Social Service Agencies (SSAs). For instance, Social Service Office (SSO) Family Coaches of ComLink+ clients and Family Service Centre caseworkers will be notified when their clients or their clients' family members are incarcerated. This enables them to assess the family's needs and provide timely assistance to support the family.

To help families to connect and support their loved ones in prison, SPS has put in place measures, such as facilitating pro-social contact between inmates and their families. In 2025, 68% of inmates received visits (either televisit or face-to-face) from their family members. In addition to visits, inmates may also connect with their families via e-letters, phone calls and family programmes. SPS also collaborates with MOE to connect incarcerated parents with their school-going children through quarterly video conferencing sessions.

Mr Lye asked whether MSF would consider developing anonymised longitudinal tracking of children of incarcerated parents. MSF and the National Council of Social Service already did this and will continue to do so via the Intergenerational Transmission of Criminality and Social Disadvantages Plus (INTRACS+) study. INTRACS+ looks at the longer-term effects of incarceration on children and found that children with parental criminal justice involvement were more likely to offend compared to those without such exposure.

MSF will continue to work with agencies to monitor and assess the effectiveness of these programmes and measures, including strengthening coordination between SPS, SSOs and SSAs to support families impacted by incarceration.