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The population of young inmates increased to 418 in 2025, a 36.2 per cent hike from 307 in 2024, according to the Singapore Prison Service.

SummarySingapore prisons saw youth inmates increase by 36.2% and remand prisoners by 21.4% in 2025, Assault rates rise to 76.7 per 10,000 inmates.SPS employs HERO psychology-based programmes and restorative practices to manage violence. Former inmates also volunteer, sharing stories to encourage positive change among prisoners.Overall two-year recidivism slightly rose to 21.9% (2023 cohort), but drug rehabilitation centre rates decreased to 26.1%, remaining among the lowest internationally.AI generated

Published Feb 09, 2026, 03:05 PM

Updated Feb 09, 2026, 07:44 PM

SINGAPORE – The number of young inmates and remand prisoners in prisons increased in 2025, contributing to a rise in assault incidents, said the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) on Feb 9.

These young offenders are aged 16 to 21.

The population of young inmates increased to 418 in 2025, a 36.2 per cent hike from 307 in 2024.

The number of remand prisoners rose 21.4 per cent to 1,639 in 2025, from 1,350 in 2024, said SPS at a briefing on Feb 9 at Selarang Halfway House in Upper Changi Road North in conjunction with the SPS and Yellow Ribbon Singapore Annual Statistics Release for 2025.

The total inmate population for incare and community corrections sits at 11,427.

According to SPS, the higher numbers of these young offenders and remand prisoners contributed to an increase in assault incidents in prisons.

SPS said in a press release: “These categories of inmates tend to face more adjustment issues upon admission, are more impulsive and resort to violence when involved in disputes with fellow inmates. This led to an increase in assault incidences committed by young inmates and remand prisoners.”

The assault rate went up to 76.7 assaults per 10,000 inmates in 2025, from 54.4 in 2024.

This figure remains low compared with other correctional jurisdictions, said SPS, which said it maintains a zero-tolerance approach towards violence.

Younger offenders go into the penal system for a number of offences such as drug abuse and shop theft, based on the 2024 annual statistics by the police and the Central Narcotics Bureau. According to the police, shop theft remains one of the top offences for youths arrested in 2024.

To keep a lid on violence in prisons, SPS adopts measures such as inmate reporting; employing restorative practices, which are about building relationships and a sense of community between inmates; anti-violence programmes; and the use of surveillance cameras with video analytics to detect fighting.

Inmates are also assessed for their risk to violence, said Dr Melvinder Singh, SPS’ deputy director of psychological services and policy planning.

“If we identify that there’s a high risk of that violence reoccurring when this inmate goes back into the community, then we will recommend him for our programme (called HERO),” said Dr Singh, 50.

The Honour, Empathy, Resilience, Ownership (HERO) psychology-based correctional programme uses cognitive-behavioural therapy.

Dr Singh explained: “We can feel angry, we can feel upset, but not all of us go around punching people, correct? So it’s saying that it’s okay to feel angry. It’s about understanding what your coping skills are, and that you can choose alternatives to violence, that you can do other things to resolve your emotions, resolve your disputes, without resorting to violence.”

Around 30 inmates attend the programme every year.

Aside from attending in-prison programmes, inmates also hear words of encouragement from former inmates who have done good outside prison walls, such as Mr J.G. Ganesan, 55, a volunteer from the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities.

Mr Ganesan, who has served a total of 37 years in prison, shares with the inmates what they are missing out on outside prison.

“I share my story to give them hope and hint that there’s nothing to be ashamed of – what they have done… When I open up, they will also open up with their experiences in the hopes that they will change for the better in the future,” he said.

The 2025 statistics also showed that the two-year overall recidivism rate remained low, with a slight increase of 0.6 percentage point from 21.3 per cent for the 2022 release cohort to 21.9 per cent for the 2023 release cohort.

This continues to be one of the lowest two-year recidivism rates internationally. On the higher end across the world, Denmark’s 2020 rate was 31 per cent; in Australia (2021-2022), it was 43 per cent; and in New Zealand (2022), it was 43.2 per cent.

The five-year overall recidivism rate remained stable, with an increase of 2.7 percentage points from 36.6 per cent for the 2019 release cohort to 39.3 per cent for the 2020 release cohort.

Moreover, fewer drug abusers re-offended within two years of their release from prison. The two-year recidivism rate for Drug Rehabilitation Centre inmates dipped by 4.7 percentage points, from 30.8 per cent for the 2022 release cohort to 26.1 per cent for the 2023 release cohort.

“Rehabilitation for young inmates is anchored in a structured regime that addresses their developmental needs through nurturing personal responsibility and prosocial identity change,” said SPS.

“Especially for youths, the family system is crucial for their rehabilitation and reintegration. Initiatives such as family programmes and family engagement sessions allow and maintain close communication between youth inmates and their family.”

Zaihan Mohamed Yusof is senior crime correspondent at The Straits Times.

Yellow Ribbon Project

Ministry of Home Affairs

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