International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) Annual Conference 2024

Singapore Prison Service Hosts the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) Annual Conference 2024

Singapore, 2 September 2024 – Singapore Prison Service (SPS) is hosting the International Corrections & Prisons Association (ICPA) Annual Conference 2024 at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel from 1 to 6 September 2024. Themed “Enabling Desistance: Beyond Recidivism”, the conference covers a wide range of topics to enable desistance and brings professionals in the field of corrections together to share best practices and learn from one another, to advance the standards of corrections. More than 800 correctional practitioners and community partners from over 70 jurisdictions will participate in the conference.

The first day of the week-long conference coincided with the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run – the annual flagship event of the Yellow Ribbon Project.¹ More than 100 international conference participants took part in the event on 1 September 2024, showing their support for second chances for inmates and ex-offenders.

At the opening ceremony of the ICPA Annual Conference 2024 on 2 September 2024, Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs shared about “Corrections 2030” - SPS’s strategy towards long-term desistance. Under Corrections 2030, SPS will focus on building the economic, social, and community capital of the inmates, ex-offenders, and their families, to uplift offenders and their families, for a safer and more inclusive Singapore. Throughout the week, conference participants will also have the opportunity to participate in plenary sessions, workshops, and networking events.

Yellow Ribbon Community Day

On 4 September 2024, SPS will launch the Yellow Ribbon Community Day as part of the Host of Regional Day within the ICPA Annual Conference 2024. As part of Yellow Ribbon Community Day, ICPA delegates and SPS community partners (including desistors²) will share their experiences in supporting desistance. In a plenary session on “Promoting Desistance, Beyond Recidivism: Singapore Correctional Model”, Ms Caroline Lim, Director of SPS’s Rehabilitation and Reintegration Division, will share how SPS uses the Singapore Correctional Model to guide our operational, rehabilitation, and reintegration approach to promote long-term desistance

In addition, SPS and Yellow Ribbon Singapore (YRSG) will release the second part of the web publication³ titled “Celebrating Second Chances” on the Yellow Ribbon Community Day, which features the support which the community has given for the reintegration of ex-offenders.

Visits to Correctional Facilities

On the last day of the conference, participants will get the opportunity to visit correctional facilities including prisons, drug rehabilitation centres, community spaces, and halfway houses. They will learn about how SPS ensures safe and secure custody and facilitates rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates and ex-offenders, by leveraging technology and community partnerships.

President of ICPA, Mr Peter Severin, said, “ICPA is excited to hold the 2024 conference together with the SPS in Singapore. More than 800 delegates from over 70 countries will share good practice and innovations in corrections and prison practice. The conference theme ‘Enabling Desistance: Beyond Recidivism’ will explore many initiatives which make a difference in people’s lives and contribute to safer communities. The conference coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Yellow Ribbon Project, a ground-breaking initiative which brings together communities across Singapore to champion for an inclusive society, where inmates and ex-offenders have second chances to turn their lives around and contribute back to society.”

Commissioner of Prisons, Ms Shie Yong Lee, said, “SPS is honoured to be given the opportunity to host the ICPA Annual Conference this year, bringing together experts from other correctional jurisdictions, where we share best practices in our respective countries, learn from and network with one another, to be more effective in corrections, ensuring safer prisons, safer communities and a safer society.”

^{1 Started in 2004 by the Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-offenders (CARE) Network, the Yellow Ribbon Project is a movement that strives to build a more inclusive society by changing society’s mindset to give ex-offenders a second chance in life so that they can contribute and pay it forward to society.
 
2 Desistors are individuals who have ceased engaging in criminal behaviour and is undergoing a transformative shift in self-identity, social relationships and life circumstances.
 
3 To commemorate 20 years of the Yellow Ribbon Project this year, SPS and YRSG are producing a three-part web publication, themed “Yellow Ribbon: Our Journey of Second Chances”:
a. Part I: “Unlocking the Second Prison” which chronicles the milestones and impact of the YRP over the years was released on 30 April 2024;
b. Part II: “Celebrating Second Chances” which features the support which the community has given for the reintegration of ex-offenders will be released during the Yellow Ribbon Community Day; and
c. Part III: “We Are Each Other’s Second Chances” which showcases the stories of inmates and ex- offenders, including their talents and contributions back to the community will be released later this year.}