Community Education Programmes

The main objectives of community education programmes are to create awareness on the consequences of criminal behaviour and drug abuse as well as to instill deterrence. Singapore Prison Service (SPS) facilitates visits into prisons and Drug Rehabilitation Centres under these programmes which focuses on youths. The other objective is to provide a learning experience for students to understand the role and importance of SPS in contributing towards a safe and secure society.

Preventive Drug Education (PDE) Programme

Under the PDE Programme, visits to Selarang Park (SPD) and Sembawang Drug Rehabilitation Centres (DRCs) are arranged for Secondary School and Institute of Technical Education students. The visit offers the youths an opportunity to see for themselves the tough regime that drug addicts have to undergo and the spartan living conditions in DRCs. The objective of the programme is to ensure that the students are aware of and understand the consequences of drug abuse and the strict regime that they will undergo if they are arrested. The visit is designed to be experiential in nature so that the participants can experience the harsh realities. During the visits, talks are also given by Central Narcotics Bureau and Prison officers.

Visits are conducted once weekly at SD and SPD, respectively. Each visit is limited to 25 participants including 2 teachers. For booking of dates, please call our Programme Branch Officer at 6-5469-391 or fax to 6-5462-459.

Streetwise Programme

The Secret Societies Branch (SSB) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) works with the Prisons Department to arrange for visits to Changi and Changi Women's Prison / DRC for wayward youths. The voluntary programme is aimed at giving these youths a glimpse at life behind bars and an opportunity to change and disassociate from their gang member friends.

Probationers Visit Programme

These visits are co-ordinated by the Probation Service Branch of the Ministry of Community Development and Sports. Probationers with poor progress under supervision are sent for this programme. This visit is aimed at educating probationers of the consequences of committing crimes and the strict regime in prison. The visit is also experiential in nature so that they understand the harsh realities behind bars.

Learning Journeys

Through the 'Learning Journeys' programme, which is part of the Ministry of Education's drive towards Thinking Schools, Learning Nation, students gain valuable insights into the history of key institutions, including the Prisons Department.

The 'Learning Journeys' programme is targeted at Junior College and Polytechnic students and is conducted at Tanah Merah Prison and Kaki Bukit Centre. More information on Learning Journeys is available at www.ecitizen.gov.sg.