Existing community supervision programmes for youth offenders often rely on punishment-based supervision methods. Youth offenders sentenced to Reformative Training Centre go through a compulsory community supervision phase termed as Release on Supervision (ROS) programme after a stint of institutional stay. This presentation focuses on an innovative and fun design of ROS where it was called “The Game Plan”. “The Game Plan” was trialed over a period of 6 months, involving 30 participants who were Singaporean, male, youth offenders aged between 18-21 years old.
“The Game Plan” infused gamification elements to develop and enhance the behavioural outcomes, individual sense of agency and positive social effects of the youth offenders. It was also undergirded by restorative practice principles such as the fair process, as well as Erickson’s developmental theory of identity formation and the recognition of positive behaviour towards critical youth development. Game mechanics such as badges, leaderboards, and progression of levels, create a positive and competitive experience that motivates each participant to achieve his goals of early discharge from the ROS programme. In this trial, poor supervision conduct was minimised, and prosocial behaviours rewarded through the recognition of supervision staff and respective stakeholders such as family members and case managers.
This presentation shares primary findings from the trial and discusses insights on community supervision programmes for youth offenders as we strive towards supporting the desistance journey of the Singaporean youth offenders.
Presenters
Ms Nina Tan has a background in counselling (Master in Counselling) and social work (Bachelor of Social Work). She had six years of experience as a Medical Social Worker and eleven years as a Correctional Rehabilitation Specialist. She oversees the Release on Supervision (ROS) team and ensures the effective implementation of case management services for the Reformative Trainees (RT) undergoing ROS. Nina ensures evidence-based practices in assessment, interventions, counselling, supervision and research in the team. Besides being an innovative and visionary leader, Nina’s warm and friendly personality enabled effective communication with various stakeholders, both within Singapore Prison Service and external partners, to ensure holistic rehabilitation and reintegration of RTs into the society.
