We started this work in June 2005 at Kajang Prison. Two years down the road, we are glad to note that our involvement in educating these juvenile offenders has been received with open arms and appreciated by both the inmates and the prison authorities.

Currently, there are about 650 boys between the ages of 13 and 20 in Kajang and another 350 more in Sungai Buloh Prison. Their average remand time in three months and in some cases, up to two years. They are suspected of committing petty crimes (such as selling pirated VCDs, petty thefts and illegal racing) as well as more serious ones (such as murder or rape). About 90% of them are first-time offenders.

In Malaysia, the crime rate among juveniles is rising very quickly. For every young person released from the Kajang Prison, there are five new cases. Thus, our community needs to wake up and find a solution to this problem because today’s young criminals may very well be our neighbours tomorrow. The current focus of our work is among those juveniles who are still under remand. We strongly believe that only through education and training, we can give these young offenders hope and determination to survive in this challenging world fi they acquire the correct living skills.

Activities

Upon SHELTER’s request, The Rotary Club of Bandar Sunway conducted a Medical & Dental Clinic on 4 March 2006. Some 83 inmates had their skin diseases checked and 43 others had dental check-ups. The club also donated medical supplies for the inmates apart from stationeries, books, footballs, drink syrups and art items for the remand juveniles.

Effect of 2007, SHELTER had four full time staff involved in academic classes and group intervention activities with classes being conducted full time from 9.30am to 4.30pm, Mondays to Thursdays.

We have also developed several key resource materials to be used in our educational programmes in the form of teaching aids, modules for group intervention activities, introductory lessons for skills training and computer skill modules.

With the cooperation of Pusat Komputer Juara, SHELTER trained two of the prison officers so that they can teach the inmates in Kajang Prison. Presently, a second computer laboratory is being set up by The Lions Club of KL Sentul which has generously donated five computers to kick-start the project.

Visits

Ministry of Internal Security Political Secretary, YB Senator Dato’ Wan Farid and MP for Seputeh, YB Theresa Kok, visited the juveniles in prison.

The Malaysian Bar Council also invited us to brief them about prison work in Kajang as they are interested to partner with SHELTER in providing legal aid for remand juveniles in Kajang Prison.

Future Plan

A representative from SHELTER has been elected to sit on a special advisory committee to advise the Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development. We have since highlighted to the council about our work in Kajang Prison and SHELTER’s plan in setting up a halfway house.