Sharp increase in young inmates raises safety concerns but rehabilitation outcomes remain strong
Singapore’s prison system faced new pressures in 2025 as a surge in young and remand inmates led to a measurable rise in assault incidents, testing the balance between safety, discipline, and rehabilitation.
Rising Youth and Remand Prisoner Numbers
The Singapore Prison Service said on Feb 9 that the number of young inmates aged 16 to 21 rose sharply in 2025, climbing to 418 from 307 in 2024, a 36.2 percent increase. At the same time, the remand prisoner population grew 21.4 percent to 1,639, up from 1,350 the year before. These trends were revealed during the SPS and Yellow Ribbon Singapore Annual Statistics Release 2025 at Selarang Halfway House.
The overall inmate population across in-care and community corrections reached 11,427. SPS attributed the rising numbers partly to youth-related offenses such as drug abuse and shop theft, which remains one of the top crimes involving youths based on police and Central Narcotics Bureau data.
Assault Incidents and Prison Safety
The increase in young and remand inmates contributed to a higher assault rate in prisons. Assault incidents rose to 76.7 cases per 10,000 inmates in 2025, compared with 54.4 in 2024. SPS noted that these groups often face adjustment difficulties upon admission, tend to be more impulsive, and are more likely to resort to violence during disputes.
Despite the increase, SPS emphasized that the assault rate remains low compared with international correctional systems. The agency reiterated its zero-tolerance stance toward violence, supported by strict enforcement and preventive strategies.
Measures to Curb Violence
To manage tensions, SPS employs a multi-layered approach that includes inmate reporting, restorative practices, anti-violence programs, and extensive use of surveillance cameras with video analytics to detect fights early. Inmates are also assessed for their propensity toward violent behavior upon entry.
Dr Melvinder Singh, SPS deputy director of psychological services and policy planning, explained that inmates identified as having a higher risk of violent reoffending are recommended for targeted interventions such as the Honour, Empathy, Resilience, Ownership program. The psychology-based initiative uses cognitive-behavioral therapy and serves about 30 inmates annually.
Rehabilitation Through Accountability and Support
The HERO program focuses on emotional regulation and conflict resolution, helping inmates understand that anger does not need to result in violence. Dr Singh said the approach teaches offenders to recognize emotions while choosing non-violent coping mechanisms and constructive responses to disputes.
Beyond structured programs, inmates also benefit from peer inspiration. Former inmate J.G. Ganesan, now a volunteer with Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities, regularly shares his life story with inmates. Having spent 37 years in prison, he encourages them to see rehabilitation as a path to dignity and reintegration.
Recidivism Rates Remain Among World’s Lowest
Despite the rise in prison assaults, long-term rehabilitation outcomes remain strong. The two-year overall recidivism rate increased slightly to 21.9 percent for the 2023 release cohort, up from 21.3 percent for the 2022 cohort. This remains one of the lowest rates globally, well below figures reported in Denmark, Australia, and New Zealand.
The five-year recidivism rate rose modestly to 39.3 percent for the 2020 release cohort. Notably, drug rehabilitation outcomes improved, with the two-year recidivism rate for Drug Rehabilitation Centre inmates falling to 26.1 percent from 30.8 percent the year before.
Family-Centered Youth Rehabilitation
SPS highlighted that rehabilitation for young inmates is built around structured regimes that address developmental needs and foster personal responsibility. Family involvement plays a central role, with programs designed to maintain communication and strengthen family support systems during incarceration.
The 2025 prison statistics highlight a growing challenge linked to youth and remand incarceration, but they also underscore the effectiveness of Singapore’s rehabilitation framework. For Indonesia and Singapore, where youth crime and reintegration are shared regional concerns, the data shows that firm enforcement paired with targeted psychological and family-based interventions can contain violence while keeping reoffending rates among the lowest worldwide.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , The Online Citizen (2026)
Keywords: Young Inmates Singapore, Prison Assault Rates, Remand Prisoners, Youth Rehabilitation, Recidivism Rates
