Turning time behind bars into a second chance at life

For one teenager, a troubled start in life led to three terms behind bars for drugs and theft-related offences.

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His third incarceration, though, marked a turning point.

Enrolled in the Prison School, the 21-year-old began taking his studies – and future – seriously. "He had matured and started putting in effort to study and maintain his conduct," recalls Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) Luke Leong.

"As a result, we got approval for him to be released on supervision in the community once he had served his minimum detention period."

DAC Leong has been the Superintendent of Institution Tanah Merah since 2023.

It houses both the Prison School (for inmates of all ages) and the Reformative Training Centre (for young offenders), and is one of 14 institutions managed by the Singapore Prison Service (SPS).

Seeing the transformation of young lives makes his work as a prison officer very rewarding, he says.

"It is always encouraging to see our ex-students and youth doing well after their release, be it pursuing further studies or finding stable jobs," adds DAC Leong, who is also a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) scholar.