Chapter 5.5: Home detention 1st interview
< ’Wednesday’ A new day arrived> I stare at the ceiling blankly. I know it is now 5am as the lights have just switched on and I can hear my neighbor showering. I have now slowly adapted to the prison’s life.
Although I know today will be another long meaningless day for me, I am still looking forward to meet new inmates and learnt more about the meaning of life. I want to make used and promise myself to be useful to the society again after my release. I have done many stupid things and due to my selfishness, I have made people near me suffered as well. Although I know myself I am not a professional legal trained.. I really hope whatever I reveal in my story can help and change people’s life.
After my breakfast, I was being notified to attend a interview regarding PPP program (Home detention scheme). Beside me, there are a few other inmates from other dayrooms as well. We were being escorted to the interview room within the same building and we were all being briefed by a highly ranked prison officer in the interview room.
He told that based on our records and backgrounds, we were selected and he will recommend us for PPP Program (Home Detention scheme). However, he told us that it is still not confirm as there are requirement, terms & conditions for us to fulfill and we are to undergo a second interview 1 week later if we wish to take up the PPP program.
He briefed us on our estimated home detention duration and other important requirement for PPP program:
- Require a normal ‘Singtel’ Telephone line for home detention more than 7 days
- No smoking/ drinking/ gambling (buying of 4D/ TOTO) during detention program
- Inmates are only allowed to leave our house from 12pm – 3pm daily (Different timing for special occasions).
- We are to be 24 hours for spot checks and be prepared to recall back to CPC for urine check at all time.
We’ll have the option to reject the home detention scheme and don’t be surprised that there are a few inmates who actually rejected the home detention scheme on the spot.
They claimed that they don’t have family support ( either homeless or staying alone), some felt that the duration of the program is too short and some thought it is too troublesome so they rather choose to stay in prison to complete their sentences.
What is Home Detention Scheme:
HOME DETENTION SCHEME
"Home Detention" , in relation to a prisoner, means the serving by the prisoner of his sentence of imprisonment in such place or places, outside the limits of any prison, as may be specified in the home detention order;
"home detention order" means an order of the Director under section 52;
"Superintendent" , in relation to a prisoner, means the Superintendent of the prison from which the prisoner had been released for home detention.
Order for home detention
52. Subject to section 53, the Director may, if he thinks fit, by order release a prisoner who is eligible for home detention for a period not exceeding 12 months or such other period as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, prescribe in substitution thereof.
Eligibility for home detention
53. —(1) A prisoner is eligible to be released for home detention under section 52 if —
(a) he is serving a sentence of imprisonment for a term of not less than 4 weeks or such other period as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, prescribe in substitution thereof;
(aa) he has served not less than 14 days of his sentence of imprisonment or such other period as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, prescribe in substitution thereof; and
(b) he is not a prisoner specified under the Schedule as being disqualified from being released for home detention under section 52.
(1A) The disqualification of a prisoner under subsection (1) (b) may be removed by the Minister if he considers that the prisoner is deserving of home detention, having regard to the circumstances of the case, including the following factors:
(a) the prisoner’s progress and response to rehabilitation in prison;
(b) the prisoner’s family support; and
(c) the risk of recidivism by the prisoner.
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1) (a), the total consecutive periods of imprisonment of whatever nature shall be treated as one sentence.
Conditions for home detention
54. —(1) A prisoner subject to a home detention order shall —
(a) remain indoors at his place of residence or at such other place or places as may be designated by the Director in the order, and between such times as may be specified in the order;
(b) wear at all times on such part of his body as the Director may specify, such electronic transmitting device as may be issued by the Director for the purpose of securing the electronic monitoring of his whereabouts by means of an electronic monitoring device;
(c) allow the Superintendent and any person authorised by the Superintendent to enter at any time his place of residence, or such other place or places designated by the Director under paragraph (a), to install, inspect, maintain, repair or retrieve any electronic monitoring device;
(d) allow a telephone line at his place of residence, or at such other place or places designated by the Director under paragraph (a), to be connected to an electronic monitoring device;
(e) ensure that there is no call waiting or call transfer facility attached to the telephone line referred to in paragraph (d) and that the telephone line is not connected to any cordless telephone, telephone answering machine, parallel telephone line, modulator — demodulator unit or any other equipment which may interfere with the proper functioning of the electronic monitoring device;
(f) not disconnect, remove, damage, tamper with, or lose the electronic transmitting device issued to him or the electronic monitoring device installed at his place of residence or at such other place or places designated by the Director under paragraph (a), or disconnect, remove, damage or tamper with the telephone line connected to the electronic monitoring device;
(g) immediately inform the Superintendent or any prison officer of any malfunction or loss of, or damage to, the electronic transmitting device or the electronic monitoring device;
(h) respond promptly to any telephone call from any person appointed by the Director to monitor prisoners who have been issued with an electronic transmitting device; and
(i) comply with such other conditions as the Director may specify in the order.
(2) The Director may at any time by order in writing served on the prisoner subject to a home detention order —
(a) vary, cancel or add to any of the conditions specified in subsection (1); or
(b) exempt the prisoner from any of the conditions specified in subsection (1).
Effect of home detention order
55. Where a home detention order is in force in respect of a prisoner —
(a) the prisoner shall be deemed to be serving his sentence of imprisonment;
(b) the prisoner shall be deemed to be in the lawful custody of the Superintendent; and
(c) the prisoner is entitled to earn remission in respect of the period of imprisonment which is served under the order.
Recall to prison
56. —(1) If a Superintendent has reason to suspect that a prisoner has failed to comply with any of the conditions of the home detention order, or has committed a disciplinary offence while being subject to a home detention order, the Superintendent may —
(a) make such inquiry as may be necessary to ascertain whether the prisoner has failed to comply with any of the conditions of the home detention order or committed a disciplinary offence while being subject to the order; and
(b) recall the prisoner to prison pending the completion of the inquiry.
(2) The period of the home detention order of a prisoner who is recalled to prison under subsection (1) (b) shall continue to run, notwithstanding the fact that he is recalled to prison, unless the order is revoked under section 57 or suspended under section 58.
Revocation of home detention order
57. —(1) If the Director is satisfied that —
(a) a prisoner has failed to return to prison after he has been recalled to prison under section 56 (1) (b);
(b) a prisoner has failed to comply with any of the conditions of the home detention order;
(c) a prisoner has committed a disciplinary offence while being subject to a home detention order;
(d) the whereabouts of a prisoner can no longer be electronically monitored at his place of residence, or at such other place or places at which the prisoner is required to remain within doors under the conditions of the home detention order; or
(e) it is necessary in the public interest to do so,
the Director may revoke the home detention order in respect of that prisoner and recall the prisoner to prison, and the prisoner shall, if at large, be deemed to be unlawfully at large.
(2) Upon the revocation of the home detention order under subsection (1), the prisoner shall serve the unexpired part of his sentence of imprisonment in prison.
Suspension of home detention order
58. —(1) Subject to subsection (2), where a prisoner subject to a home detention order is punished for a minor prison offence under section 70 (1) (a) or (b), or for an aggravated prison offence under section 71
(1) (b) or (c), the home detention order in respect of the prisoner shall, unless revoked under section 57, be suspended from the date on which the prisoner is punished for —
(a) the period that the prisoner is confined in a punishment cell pursuant to an order under section 70 (1) (a) or 71 (1) (b); or
(b) the period of remission which is forfeited pursuant to an order under section 70 (1) (b) or 71 (1) (c).
(2) If a prisoner is punished with both confinement in a punishment cell under section 70 (1) (a) or 71 (1) (b) and forfeiture of remission under section 70 (1) (b) or 71 (1) (c), the period for which the home detention order shall be suspended under subsection (1) shall be the sum of the period for which the prisoner is ordered to undergo confinement and the period of remission forfeited.
Powers to enter and search
59. A police officer of or above the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police or a police officer authorised by him may —
(a) enter and search a place without a warrant to effect the arrest of any prisoner who has failed to return to prison after he is recalled by the Superintendent under section 56 (1) (b); and
(b) in order to effect an entrance into that place, break open any outer or inner door or window of that place if he cannot otherwise obtain admittance thereto.
After the briefing, we were told by the officer to wait outside as he need to interview us individually. While waiting for my turn for the interview, I spoke to the inmate who was sitting beside me.
He is 3xx2. He is a indian in mid-forties. He told me that he was being charged for robbery. He was sentenced to jail term for 2 years 6 months + strokes of rotan (I don’t quite remember how many)
There was a day when a foreign worker from china tried to pick pocket one of his friend in the midnight. 3xx2 was with his friend and other 2 when this incident happened. His friend noticed that he had been pickpocket by the foreign worker and he told the group about it. Soon, the group managed to find and capture the foreign worker. They forced him into their van. They drove to Lim Chu Kang cemetery, tied him up and bash him up. The foreign worker plead to stop and offered them all his money in his pocket (about $10000). The group agreed and left quickly after taking the foreign worker’s money.
The group was arrested by the police within 1 week after the robbery.
From what he told me, I thought he was helping out a friend, out for revenge and to teach the foreign worker a lesson. In the end, his greed has destroyed him and his group of friends.
Soon I was being called into the interview room and the officer start to ask questions about my lifestyle, my work history, my crimes and my family background. The whole interview lasted for about 20 minutes. I was told to wait and I will be informed for the second interview if I am eligible.
Back to my cell room 629, I was informed to pack my belongings after 3pm muster check as I am transferring to other cell room....
Chapter 6: B4, HU1, Room 208
To Be Continued
