Over 90 percent of young offenders managed to avoid recommitting crimes for three years after their release from custody due to a cooperative new project. This aims to provide crisis intervention and counseling for young criminals.

Among 510 adolescents whose cases had been closed, 487 or 95 percent did not recommit crimes after receiving help. Ninety-two percent of them reported that their relationships with parents were also improved.

To reduce criminal incidents among youth in the first place and reduce the recidivism rate, a risk assessment tool for adolescents designed by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) and the City University of Hong Kong's (CityU) Department of Applied Social Sciences was launched. It is the first project in Hong Kong organized by social service bodies and also the police.

CityU Professor Dennis Wong Sing-wing said that during waiting times between being convicted and sentenced, counseling and correctional intervention were imperative. This was because "youths are prone to recommit crimes due to depression and strained family relationships as they tend to withhold the truth from their parents".

Wong added that a positive presence and attitude in court could protect them from getting heavier penalties.

The risk of reoffending is analyzed through 70 questions that cover 10 domains including previous criminal records, family background and living environment, educational attainment, personality and extracurricular activities.

About 180 previous young offenders were investigated from October to December last year.

It was found the three most important factors that could lead to criminal behavior were a lack of extracurricular and recreational activities, a criminal record and family relationships.

Wong said that in countries like the US, the UK and Canada, risk assessment equivalents had been around for some time.

Social workers managed to contact and provide correctional intervention for 80 percent of adolescents aged between 10 and 17 who were referred to the project by police. They have also come to the aid of the adolescents' parents hoping to improve their family relationships.

Chan Man-ho, supervisor of the project, said many young offenders opted to conceal the truth from their parents either because they underestimated the severity of their offense or due to the fear of condemnation. There was a good chance they would recommit crimes at such a time of vulnerability and helplessness, Chan said.

jenny@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 02/03/2016 page7)