CARE Network Summit & Correctional Practice and Research Symposium 2025

GROWING TOGETHER, EMPOWERING CHANGE

               On 24 July 2025, the Singapore Prison Serivce (SPS), together with Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex- Offenders (CARE) Network, jointly organised the CARE Network Summit and Correctional Practice and Research Symposium (CPRS) at the Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay. Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, graced the even as the Guest-of-Honour.

CARE Network Summit

2.                Themed "GROWing Together, Empowering Change", the event celebrated the 25^th anniversary of the CARE Network and highlighted the continued growth of the CARE Network in strengthening the aftercare ecosystem for ex-offenders and their families to reduce re-offending. The CARE Network has evolved from a pioneering initiative of 7 core members in 2000 to become Singapore's coordinating platform for aftercare and rehabilitation services, now encompassing 10 core members and more than 170 community partners. [1] 

3.                More than 450 participants from the public and private sectors attended the CARE Network Summit to learn, network, and explore collaboration opportunities to better support the reintegration of ex-offenders and their families.

4.                The CARE Network has made a continuous effort in contributing to the low recidivism rate. The two-year recidivism rate has dropped from a high 40.1% in 2000 when the CARE Network was formed, to 21.3% for the 2022 release cohort. Over the past 25 years, the CARE Network has enhanced the skill-sets of its partners through training, strengthened throughcare support for inmates, and empowered desistors with the set-up of the Desistor Network in 2023.

GROW Framework

5.                At the event, the CARE Network announced its five-year workplan, guided by a new GROW framework, to strengthen the aftercare ecosystem and further improve the recidivism outcome.

a.      Galvanise the growth of the aftercare support sector by implementing more cross-sector mentorship programmes, creating more platforms to learn, and deepening expertise;

b.      Reduce duplication of services and programmes by assessing the community needs and identifying any gaps or duplicative services;

c.      Optimise resources to ensure sustainable growth while expanding its services; and

d.      Widen network of stakeholders by cultivating new partnerships with other sectors to better address the needs of inmates, ex-offenders, and their families.

6.               By adopting the GROW framework, the CARE Network will strengthen its collective efforts in supporting the reintegration of ex-offenders and families, achieving longer term desistance and reducing re-offending.

Correctional Practice and Research Symposium (CPRS)

7.                For the first time, the CARE Network Summit was held in conjunction with the Correctional Practice and Research Symposium (CPRS), signifying the importance of practice research in the reintegration support for ex-offenders and their families.

8.                First started in 2023, the Symposium is a platform to showcase evidence-informed rehabilitation and practice pieces by SPS and its community partners, and provide an opportunity to engage with members of the Correctional Science Research Network (CSRN) which comprises of academics, researchers, and like-minded partners. The CSRN was formed to strengthen academic discourse and the application of correctional rehabilitation research.

9.                Ms Sheila Connolly, CEO of Cork Alliance for Justice and Social Case CLG (Ireland), delivered a keynote address on adopting a person-centred approach in multi-agency working environments. Participants also took part in (i) a panel discussion with Ms Gillian Butler, who is a further education transition support worker, and Ms Jean McCarthy, a support worker from Cork Alliance on lived experience and the importance of family and support relationships, (ii) breakout groups to discuss on professional, family, community, and individual growth, and (iii) workshops on Change Management and Social Impact.

SPS’s Publication on “Group Work in Correctional Rehabilitation"

10.             SPS launched its fourth book publication[2] on “Group Work in Correctional Rehabilitation[3]”, put together by correctional rehabilitation specialists and psychologists from SPS.  This book explores the transformative power of group therapy within a correctional setting, offering a comprehensive guide for therapists, psychologists, counsellors and prison officers who facilitate therapeutic groups for incarcerated individuals. Grounded in evidence-informed practices, this work delves into SPS's progressive and professional approaches in rehabilitation, through the lens of specialists and prison officers who lead intervention groups for offenders.

11.             “The launch of our GROW model marks yet another significant milestone in CARE Network’s efforts to strengthen the aftercare ecosystem. By galvanising our partners' capabilities, reducing duplication, optimising resources, and widening our network, we are building a more coordinated and effective aftercare support system for the ex-offenders and their families. This collaborative approach, together with evidence-based practices shared at the CPRS, will strengthen CARE Network’s reintegration ecosystem in the community to reduce re-offending for a safer Singapore.” said Ms Shie Yong Lee, Commissioner of Prisons and Co-Chairperson of the CARE Network.

About the Singapore Prison Service (SPS)

As an agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs and a key member of the Home Team, SPS enforces the secure custody of offenders and rehabilitates them for a safer Singapore. SPS’s team of Captains of Lives – comprising uniformed officers and civilian staff – works closely with offenders, their family, aftercare agencies, community partners and volunteers. The Captains of Lives inspire and steer offenders to take ownership of their rehabilitation and be responsible and contributing citizens.

For more information, refer to SPS’s website at www.sps.gov.sg ↗ (opens in new tab).

About CARE Network

The Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders (CARE) Network (CN) is an alliance of ten core members comprising government organisations and social service agencies focusing on community engagement, coordination of aftercare efforts and enhancing the service delivery for ex-offenders and their families. Established in May 2000, CN was the first platform that brought community partners together to promote seamless throughcare support, from in-care to aftercare, for ex-offenders and their families.

Since its formation, CN has expanded to work with over 170 community partners which include Social Service Agencies (SSAs), religious groups, Family Service Centres (FSCs), Halfway Houses and grassroots organisations. Singapore Prison Service (SPS) partners closely with CN core member agencies and community partners to ensure the successful rehabilitation of ex-offenders and the enhancement of their socio-economic mobility.

For more information, refer to SPS website at https://www.sps.gov.sg/learn-about-corrections/care-network/our-story/ ↗ (opens in new tab)

[1] The CARE Network now comprises of 10 core members including the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Singapore Prison Service, Yellow Ribbon Singapore, National Council of Social Services, Industrial & Services Co-Operative Society Ltd, Singapore After-Care Association, Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, Yellow Ribbon Fund, and NeuGen Fund, and more than 170 community partners from different segments of the community.

[2] The other book publications are “A Woman’s Journey Home”, “Waiting for You” and “Correctional Rehabilitation and Psychological Interventions”.

[3] The publication is available on World Scientific Connect.