Rehabilitation Beyond Bars

By Myra Quek

Myra is a freshly graduated criminology major (yes, she’s still figuring out what that really means) who is currently “funemployed” - that’s unemployed, but with extra snacks. She loves reading and listening to true crime stories, which she insists technically counts as “research”. When she isn’t over-analysing criminal behaviour, you’ll usually find her in the kitchen baking (where the only crimes happening are against her oven).

Rehabilitation Beyond Bars

Occasionally, news headlines highlight new arrests or court sentences for drug-related offences, serving as reminders of Singapore’s uncompromising stance against drugs. It is easy to view offenders with condemnation, and for most of us, attention stops at the moment of arrest. Few pause to ask what will become of these individuals, how is Singapore dealing with those who have fallen into drug addiction and how are we helping them rebuild their lives? Behind each of these headlines lies a quieter story, one not just about punishment, but about rehabilitation and second chances.

A look into the Drug Rehabilitation Centre.

Photo issued by the Singapore Prison Service: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx251p55le8o

Singapore’s Rehabilitative Approach

Singapore’s approach to drug control balances firm enforcement with structured rehabilitation. While traffickers face severe penalties, those caught for drug use are not immediately treated as criminals. Instead, they are offered differentiated pathways for recovery. A recognition that rehabilitation and reintegration are crucial to breaking the cycle of addiction.

At the heart of this framework are Drug Rehabilitation Centres (DRCs) and the Drug Supervision Scheme, which fall under the supervision of the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and the Singapore Prison Service (SPS). Together, they form the backbone of Singapore’s efforts to help abusers turn over a new leaf and reclaim their place in society.

Drug Rehabilitation Centres (DRC)

For individuals arrested solely for drug consumption, the DRC programme provides a treatment-oriented, non-criminal route centred on rehabilitation rather than punishment. The affected individual undergoes a tailored programme based on their personal risk profile and relapse history, with treatment lasting between 12 to 36 months. (SPS 2021; pg 3/15)

The programme comprises two phases – In-care and Community-Based Programmes (CBPs). In the In-care phase, inmates attend:

• Psychology-based correctional programmes to address addiction and behavioural patterns;

• Family programmes to enhance relational bonds and supportive relationships;

• Vocational and employability skills training to prepare them for a life of independence after release.

Subsequently, if found suitable, they can progress to the Community Based Programme (CBP) where they continue their recovery in the community under supervision. Ideally, rehabilitation should continue long after the programme ends, with its effects rippling into the participants' daily lives post-release, but in reality, sustaining that positive change after participants leave the structured environment is often challenging.

DRCs play a pivotal role at the forefront of Singapore’s rehabilitation and reintegration efforts. By separating abusers from the general prison population and focusing on evidence-based treatment, they serve as a bridge back into society rather than a form of punishment.

The Drug Supervision Scheme (DSS)

Recovery does not always take place behind prison walls. For drug offenders who have completed their stint in the DRC, the DSS provides a structured yet compassionate reintegration pathway (CNB 2022). It extends the work of DRCs into the community, ensuring continued accountability and support after release.

After release, or sometimes directly after arrest, abusers are issued a five-year Supervision Order (CNB 2022). This involves regular mandatory urine tests, counselling sessions and community monitoring. These processes may be perceived as restrictive, but they are developed on the principle to help individuals stay drug-free while rebuilding a stable, meaningful life. Progress is rewarded with privileges, such as being allowed hair analysis tests, which offer longer periods between checks.

The upcoming Supervision 2.0, announced in the 2025 Committee of Supply debate, this approach will be enhance with technology-enabled monitoring and community based support, making supervision more effective and less disruptive to supervisees.

Aftercare Support by Prison Fellowship Singapore (PFS)

The transition back to society is often the hardest stage, where stigma, temptation and isolation can easily undo months of progress in the blink of an eye. This is where Prison Fellowship Singapore (PFS) steps in.

Working with the SPS, PFS plays a vital role in sustaining the work started through DRCs and the DSS. PFS’s Aftercare Ministry provides ongoing guidance, encouragement and emotional support to help ex-offenders stay on track. Two of its key programmes in this Ministry area are:

1. One-to-One Counselling

Through individual counselling sessions, PFS helps former offenders navigate the emotional, psychological and social challenges of re-entry into society and the wider community. Counsellors offer guidance on relapse prevention, family reconciliation and goal-setting, providing not just advice but genuine friendship and a listening ear when shame or fear overwhelms them. These personalised sessions build trust and enable tailored interventions which complement official supervision requirements, helping individuals regain stability and confidence as they work towards a new beginning.

2. Support Groups for Men and Women

Recognising that rehabilitation is often a collective process, PFS runs gender-specific support groups for individuals to be seen and heard, and community is birthed from empathy and shared experiences. These safe spaces allow ex-offenders to speak without judgement and learn from others who have walked the same path. Within these groups, beneficiaries find solidarity, resilience and hope, which form crucial foundations for rebuilding self-worth and staying drug-free.

Through these aftercare programmes, PFS strengthens the final stage of Singapore’s rehabilitative journey, supporting community reintegration. By facilitating emotional healing and social reintegration, these initiatives close the gap between institutional rehabilitation and sustained, long-term desistance from drugs.

Men’s Support Group, also known as Thursday Connect Group (TCG), is a space for male ex-offenders to find community and support in their journey of rehabilitation and reintegration.

Conclusion

In Singapore’s anti-drug landscape, DRCs and the DSS work hand in hand to prioritise recovery and reintegration while maintaining accountability. Supported by organisations like PFS, this framework reflects a model of justice that is firm and compassionate.

Behind every statistic is an individual trying to start over. The success of rehabilitation hinges not just on the systems in place, but on society's willingness to see those who have stumbled as individuals capable of change and not simply as lost causes.

If you wish to make a difference, consider supporting the work of PFS by the giving of your time, talent or treasure, so that ex-offenders can find purpose, belonging and experience the healing love of God!