The home minister recently announced that the government has agreed in principle to implement Licensed Release of Prisoners (PBSL), through home detention, for those serving jail terms of four years and below.
The minister indicated that this strategy will assist in reducing overcrowding in prisons. However, details of PBSL were not provided.
This brief commentary will provide some insights into home detention programmes in civil democratic societies.
Electronic devices such as ankle bracelets are used to monitor the movements and activities of individuals placed under home detention. The device tracks their location, ensuring that they stay within the prescribed geographic boundaries.
A curfew requires individuals to remain at home during specific hours or overnight.
They are allowed to leave their residence for work, school, medical appointments, or other authorised activities, but must return within the designated period.
A work release programme allows individuals to continue employment or education while serving their sentence. They are typically required to spend their non-working or non-studying hours at home and may have limitations on geographic movement.
A house arrest programme confines individuals to their homes for the duration of the sentence, with limited exceptions, such as medical appointments or court appearances. They often require authorisation to leave their residence.
An intensive supervision programme involves close monitoring and regular contact with probationary officers or other officials. Individuals may be required to attend regular check-ins, counselling, or other rehabilitative programmes while serving their sentence under home detention.
Community service programmes are popular as well and widely implemented. Instead of being confined to their homes, individuals may be allowed to perform community service as part of their sentence.
They might be required to work on specific projects during scheduled hours and be subject to monitoring.
While under home detention, individuals must be given the opportunity to go through the following programmes and activities. In some cases, the programmes are mandatory.
Offenders can be required to attend regular online or face-to-face counselling or therapy to address the underlying issues that led to their criminal behaviour.
Offenders can be enrolled in training courses or programmes conducted online to develop skills and increase their chances of employment upon release.
Offenders can be provided with educational resources such as online courses or e-learning platforms, to continue their education and acquire new knowledge during the home detention period.
Substance abuse is a common problem among many offenders. Those who committed drug- or alcohol-related offences can be required to participate in online or in-person substance abuse programmes, attend virtual support group meetings or undergo remote counselling.
Restorative justice programmes require offenders to be involved in mediated dialogues with their victims or their victims' families through video conferences, allowing for communication, understanding and potential reconciliation.
Mental healthcare programmes must be offered. Offenders with mental health issues can be offered virtual counselling or online support groups to address specific needs and ensure they receive adequate emotional support.
Some offenders who are parents can be required to participate in courses or workshops to enhance their parenting skills and promote positive family relationships.
Employment assistance programmes can be very useful as well.
Offenders can receive assistance in job searches, resume building, and interview skills through online platforms, helping them secure employment after their sentence is completed.
It's important to note that the availability and scope of these programmes may vary from country to country and are subject to the provisions of the criminal justice system.
Most importantly, PBSL must be limited to first-time non-serious and non-violent offenders.
The major plus point of home detention programmes is avoiding prisonisation and preventing the interaction of first-time non-serious and non-violent offenders with hardcore and repeat offenders.
* The writer is a criminologist at the Centre for Policy Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia
