My life experience in Changi Prison (Cluster B)

[ilurvebitches]

Originally Posted by HokkienPeng

I was frm cluster A4

A4 what year? Still got that lan sai pai ka staff sgt? That one like to zee gui kia. Like to spot inmates room and turn it upside down for no fucking reason.

Your SOP still a lady? That one good and humble.[/QUOTE]

I went in 2003 den 2004 transfer to cluster frm MCP/RTC... Tink her is ma'am mahani....

[emokid]

Bro, ur story are so addictive! Keep the post gg. I check in daily to read. It's enlightening to bros here who thot of committing any crimes to realli think twice. Enjoy freedom!

[HokkienPeng]

Originally Posted by ilurvebitches

A4 what year? Still got that lan sai pai ka staff sgt? That one like to zee gui kia. Like to spot inmates room and turn it upside down for no fucking reason.

Your SOP still a lady? That one good and humble.

I went in 2003 den 2004 transfer to cluster frm MCP/RTC... Tink her is ma'am mahani....[/QUOTE]

We may have seen each other. I was in the kitchen crew and less than 3 months at A4 joined the tea room crew. Towards end of 04 was transferred to A5 till came out in 05.

[RG77]

so many jail birds here...

[CeiResident]

In the dark times, the eyes begin to see...

[manitou]

Originally Posted by CeiResident

In the dark times, the eyes begin to see...

Very true. King Lear said "I have no eyes and therefore need no ways. I stumble while I saw".

[Gara]

Chapter 4.3: Reformative Training Center (RTC)- Part I

“They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season....

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.”

What is Reformative Training Center (RTC)? Franking speaking, I do not even know what does RTC stand for and anything about RTC before I was sentenced to prison! Till the malay inmates told me stories about their past in RTC. For your information:

Under the Young Offenders Section (YOS), the Court can order residents of Boys’ Home to serve the remaining of their term in Reformative Training Centre (RTC) as YOS, if they had breached the Home’s rules. Alternatively, the Court can order the boys to serve six months in RTC and then complete their term in the Boys’ Home. Also under this section, the Juvenile Court can order a young offender to serve a term in RTC as YOS for a period.

The RTC houses young male offenders between 14 - 21 years of age who have been sentenced by the Court to undergo reformative training. It is recognised that the key to success in the rehabilitation of the Reformative Trainees (RTs) is a highly individualised form of institutional training and treatment followed by a period of closed supervision after their discharge.

The training consists of two phases. In the first phase, the residential phase, the trainees have to undergo counselling and compulsory academic and vocational training. This phase can last between 18 - 36 months, subject to the conduct and progress of the trainees. The programmes during this phase include counselling, education, vocational training and religious activities. These programmes are conducted based on the Housing Unit Management System, which ensures that each trainee has a Personal Supervisor who serves as a role model to the trainee under his charge. The Personal Supervisor looks after the trainee like a big brother or sister providing both guidance and leadership. The Personal Supervisor will also monitor the trainees’ welfare and behaviour closely and provide individualised attention to each trainee.

RTs who are keen to pursue academic education are transferred to Kaki Bukit Centre (Prison School). The school provides a conducive learning environment for trainees to rehabilitate themselves through learning of skills and knowledge that will prepare them to re-integrate into the society. The school offers academic courses in BEST (Basic Education for Skills Training), WISE (Worker Improvement through Secondary Education), GCE “N”, “O” and “A” Levels and vocational training in electronics at NITEC (National Institute of Technical Education Certificate) Intermediate Level. The trainees in Prison School also undergo the Lifeskills Programme, Specialised Treatment Programme, Family Involvement Programme and Community Re-integration Programme.

After the residential phase, the trainees will be released under supervision. At this stage, the aim is to provide the trainees with supervised aftercare so as to facilitate their re-integration into society. The trainees will be expected to work or study and perform community work while under the care and supervision of Prisons Aftercare Officers.

The Changi Women Prison/DRC houses all categories for female prisoners and drug addicts, including female Reformative Trainees. It is the only female institution in Singapore. Inmates are allowed to attend religious classes, education and vocation training. Some courses conducted include IT training, hairdressing and embroidery. There are also parenting workshops, group and individual counselling and a Play and Wait programme catered for the children of female inmates.
Reformative training routine:

AFTER the first month, reformative trainees settle into a daily routine that looks something like this:
6am: Day starts.

Morning: After breakfast, they attend programmes tailored to their needs that include studies, art therapy and religious counselling.

Noon to 1pm: Lunch

Afternoon: Counselling, studies and yard time.

Before 6pm: Dinner

9pm: Lights out

Since last October, reformative training has gone one step further in rigour: All newcomers now have to spend their first two weeks in solitude so that they can think about where they went wrong.

This reflection is done in a cell about the size of two ping-pong tables. Trainees are let out only for morning foot drills in an indoor yard and interviews with psychologists and reform centre supervisors.
Up until the change, three or four new inmates would be housed in a cell from Day 1.

The impact of the change remains to be seen.

The two-week isolation period can be seen as a form of early conditioning for the regimented life that lies ahead for youths who fall afoul of the law.

The court considers reformative training for those between 14 and 21 after weighing factors that include the youth's character, past conduct, home environment and the circumstances under which the offence was committed.

A youth who lacks self-discipline, has no regard for law and authority and is beyond his parents' control may be considered more suitable for reformative training than probation.

A handful of wayward girls were on the reformative training programme at the Changi Women's Prison, while others were on it at the prison school in Kaki Bukit, where they were working towards their O- or A-level examinations.

The offences these trainees commit while undergoing reformative training have jumped 35 per cent in the past three years, estimated that new trainees were the culprits in six out of 10 offences at the RTC. Absolute figures were unavailable.

While fights and assaults have taken place, the infringements are often minor. They include a persistent failure to keep their hands behind their backs while talking to officers and straying from a single file while on the move within the RTC.

The two weeks in solitary confinement are expected to improve discipline.

It seems to have worked for at least one RTC inmate. The 20-year-old final-year polytechnic student, who was sent there last December for smoking cannabis, found himself hunkering down to some serious thinking in his cell.

He said: 'It took me a few days, but I literally sat in a corner and started thinking.

'I felt all kinds of emotions, but I realised there was no one to be angry at but myself.

'My conclusion so far: I have hurt my family by coming in here. I should keep on the right track and not do anything that only benefits myself.'

Although he is now determined to make the best of his time at the RTC, life there was tough in the first few days.

'Outside, I had everything I wanted. Family, bed, air-conditioning. Here, it is just four walls,' he said.

[Gara]

Part II

Here’s another real life story from one of my readers (no editing had been done):

“Hi!

Thanks for sharing your post. Prison life is not cool at all.

I was charged in the juvenile court just before I was 16, for possession of firecrackers, which was meant to be sold for extra money. A friend of mine released one and some one complained, the police came to do a spot check and I was taken in after they found a "thunderclap" in my possession.

My story is nothing compared to what you and many of the inmates went through, but then for a 15 year old, the night in the police station lockup at Ang Mo Kio police station, was a night to remember for me. There's a small wooden plank for you to lie on, and there were 4 persons including me inside the lockup. I remembered it being a little stuffy in there and the cell was lighted by fluorescent tube. Like what happened in your story, the few of us shared about what caused us to end up being there. I can only remember one of thee suspect's story, he was actually looking through a pile of discarded items and actually picked up a plank when the police came, there was an attempted robbery in the nearby area and he was immediately a suspect.

I remember the police officer who tried to take my thumb print, an indian lady, who was very rough in handling me, i tensed up, she noticed then said, relax and stopped handing me like i'm a convict.

The i/o was a funny man, big, burly sized, speaks in english with a mixture of hokkien, took my statement, then said, "this one is nothing la, you at the most kenna ps for 1 year only"

I still remembered the day when I was sent to the court, I shared the van with a man who was about 40 years old and handcuffed, poor guy was like tossing around when the van has sudden movements, hard braking and sprint from red lights, and I had to hold on to him to support him. I wasn't handcuffed as the police sees me as a harmless teenager? The interesting thing about the lockup inside the subordinate court is that it is air conditioned there was an indian national whose offence was not known as he's not able to communicate in english and a 22 year old chinese guy sharing the cell with me, the chinese guy's offence was attacking his mother's employer for the unfair treatment given to his mother the guy was a triad member. In the lockup, interestingly, every triad member are 1, like brothers in arms, scribbled in the walls of the holding room are words left by former triad members wishing their "brothers" good luck in getting out.

That's basically what I remembered about my experience being held in the court holding area before the hearing and I remembered also, the courtroom, when I stepped in, there was a lot of eyes looking at me, the hearing was fast, less than 10 mins and I was whisked away back to the holding room. 24 years has passed by, and I've never shared this with anyone in this forum.

I did end up at the boys home, or get the probation as recommended by the i/o, instead my parents was slapped with a fine for my offense, which was totally unexpected, my parents didn't have the money to pay and my dad went out to borrow the money to pay, even the i/o recommended a 2 years maximum probation for me.
After reading your post, make me recalled back how much i had hurt my parents and they still show care n concern till now even though I very rude to them and rather spend more time with friends than with them when i was still a teenager. Y am i so stubborn and so stupid that time. If I had not listened to my friend, all this will never happened. I so regret what I had did to my parents when i was young.

By reading your story had influences me and because of you, I decided to share my past now, hopefully to prevent the young readers not to followed my footstep.

Thank you!”

Although I myself had never been to RTC, I have learnt so much about the life in RTC through inmates, readers, and online. All I can say to the young brothers whom are reading my story now: “ Better don’t try anything funny that can end you up in RTC as life in RTC is much more tougher than in Prison!”

We proceed back to our cell room after yard and we were being locked up in the our cell room till next day... It’s the day which we will have our ‘DAYROOM’ activity in the morning!



Chapter 4.4: The 'AWOL' inmate I known at ‘DAYROOM’
To be Continued

[Gara]

Chapter 4.4: The ‘AWOL’ inmate at ‘Dayroom’

It was my first day of ‘DAYROOM’ activity. I am curious on how inmates spent their time throughout the 1 hour ‘DAYROOM’ activity. So I observed around, there is a ‘42’ inch plasma TV available for the inmates to watch recorded ‘old’ movies and documentaries. There are copies of chinese (Zhao Bao) and English (Straits Times) newspapers available for reading. Sadly to say that topics regarding politics, crimes, sex and women are all censored from the newspapers and the copies available are always 1 week back-dated. There are also board games and chess games available for the inmates.

There were about 120 inmates in dayroom 3 sharing only a few copies of newspapers and a few sets of chess/ board games. So as expected, most of the inmates spend time gathering around and chatting with each other while others will just sat at corners quietly waiting for the time to pass.
For me, I approached to one of my roommates who sat quietly at one corner and spent my time chatting with him alone throughout the 1 hour activity:

He is 6xx8, a young malay guy who aged only about 20 years old. He is the only one of my roommates whom are always quiet and seldom communicate to any of us in our cell room. He was sentenced to jail due to ‘AWOL’ ( Absent Without Official Leave) from his national service.

Now, I believe most of the readers may be wondering and thought that military offences should sentence to detention barrack (DB) instead. But do you know that for AWOL case:

If a person is absent for less than 14 days, it is considered AWOL case and it deal with DB which has no criminal record, but if a person is absent for 28 days or more, the person is considered a DESERTER and the person will have to serve time in CPC and there will be a criminal record

To be frank, I thought 6xx8 is just another brainless young teen when I get to know the ‘surface’ of his AWOL case during our first day lockup in cell room 629. But after he revealed to me more details about this case, I feel pity and sorry for him instead!

6xx8 stay with his mum and his younger sister who are still studying primary school. He come from a broken poor family and was dropped of school during secondary school. He also had a elder brother who are also currently serving his sentences in jail. He do not have much friends nor relatives. His mum, who is the sole breadwinner of the family, was sentenced to jail due to certain reasons while he served his remaining 3 months of national service. Leaving only him with his younger sister, he thought he got no other choices but to AWOL from National Service in order to work to earn more money to support themselves.

I actually have doubts in what he told me about his story in the beginning. But after I think again for a while, it may be the truth as I don’t think he is stupid enough to take the risk of AWOL, even at the last 3 months of his remaining national service.

Through this encounter, my concern is that while there are a lot of helpdesks and assistances from organizations/ communities which can assist him in solving his problems, but why he do not seem to know and approach any of it? Why did he choose to AWOL while he already know the consequences of doing it? Is he trying to get himself into jail purposely just to run away from his problems?

There are people including me whom choose to be quiet and bear the burdens all by themselves.

Trust me, I have learn my lesson! Open up your mind. Don’t feel embarrass! Try to share and ask advices from those whom are near to you. You may find answers and somehow enlighten your burdens in a different way!


Chapter 5: Prison’s Food Menu
To be continued

[Gara]

Chapter 5.1: Prison’s Food Menu

I know all readers are curious and interested in the food that inmates ate every day. And this is the moment you have been waiting for so long. I have summarized the food’s menu but please note that this is only for your references and it may not be 100% accurate as the menu will change once a while:


Breakfast
- 4pcs x home-made white bread apply with butter cream or strawberry jam (Not valid for inmates with problem taking sugar) + Coffee or Milk Tea or Tea Without Milk (For inmates with problem in taking sugar)

Lunch
- Fried Mee Hoon + 1pcs fish cake
- Fried Hokkien Mee + 1pcs fish cake
- White Rice + Bean curd (Main) + Mixed vegetable (Side)
- White Rice + hotdog (Main) + Mixed vegetable (Side)
- White Rice + Boiled egg (Main) + Mixed vegetable (Side)

Dinner
- White Rice + Sardine (Main) + Mixed vegetable (Side) + Gravy
- White Rice + Oven baked Drumstick or chicken breast + Mixed vegetable (Side) + Gravy
- White Rice + Oven baked ‘Headless ‘ fish + Mixed vegetable (Side) + Gravy

Kitchen Cleaning Day (1 or 2 times per month)
- Breakfast (same)
- Lunch: 2 cups x ‘Made In Vietnam’ Vegetarian Instant Noodles
- Dinner: I packet of buns (6pcs with ingredients)

Fruit (Daily)
1pcs x orange/ apple/ banana

- All food in prison are halal and are low fat.

- The food are cooked and prepared by the cookies.


If any of the readers are expected to go to prison soon and are the choosy type of person in food, I can only say ‘Good Luck’ to you and better don’t torture yourself by not eating what you don’t like.

So, don't be choosy in what you eat as there is no other choice of food for you in prison. Either you eat or you starve! I personally feel that you may be surprise that the food may taste better than your expectation!




Chapter 5.2: Family Visit
To Be Continued

[ChinKooi]

Why are political news censored from inmates ?

[Gara]

Chapter 5.2: Family Visit

< Tuesday > About a week of my lockup have passed in CPC. I missed my family members in every single minute, single day. But there were nothing much I can do, I can only wait to the day they come visit me. Although inmates are allowed to write letters to family members, but it will take more than a week to reach them.

Whenever there were announcements from intelcom informing inmates to get ready for their family visit, I will somehow feel sad and disappointed whenever my ID number not being called up. Even some of my roommates who came in the same day as me, had already been visited by their family members.

Didn’t they receive the notice about my lockup in CPC? Are they too busy to come or have already disappointed in me?

Although I did told them not to come visit me as my sentences is short and it is too inconvenience for them to come from woodlands. I thought everything will be fine without seeing them only for weeks. But I was wrong, the longer I am being lockup in CPC, the more lonely I felt and the more I miss them.
Till halfway through my ‘Dayroom’ activity today, my ID number was being called up by the cookie suddenly. I responded and wondering what’s happening. “5613, standby for your family visit now!” said by the cookie. I was surprised, happy and a sudden amazing feeling which cannot be described in words. I had finally waited for this moment to come!

The front gate of Dayroom 3 opened in the next few minutes. I, the only inmate, walked out and join the other inmates from Dayroom 1 and Dayroom 2 whom also had their family visit. After headcount by a police officer, he escorted us to the ‘Visit rooms’ which are located at B2.

The journey from B4 to B2 is about 20 minutes. We were escorted to a room which was near the entrance of the ‘Visit Rooms’. We were later been briefed by the prison officer about the procedures for our family visits before we are allowed to proceed further.

I walked slowly to room 26 knowing that I have only 1 hour to communicate with my family members after the briefing. I told myself that I must treasure every single second and minute for this moment as Face-to-Face Family visit are only allowed once in every 2 weeks.

I came to Room 26, my family members are sitting in front of me. There is a wall with a transparent glass panel separating us from body contacts. I walked into the room and close the door. Now the room are only left me with my family members.

We seem to be very near to each other, yet we are very far from each other.

The moment I sat down, I can’t control my tears dropping out from my eyes even I tried to control……………….

Dear readers, I apologize that I really do not know what words are best to describe that very moment and there is nothing interesting to share in my conversation with my family members. All I can say is we treasured every single minutes communicating through the intelcom. We cry together, yet chatting with each other happily. Although it’s only been a few days for us without seeing each other, to us it is like months.

A message to all readers: All mothers in the world are the same. She will always be the one support, care, concern and standby by your side no matter what you have done and how much you have changed. Most fathers are also the great ones although on the surface they may not show much love and care to you. Till the day when you found yourself in deep trouble, you will know they will be the only ones who will support you till the very end.

So, spend some time and think again. How many sms and phone calls you have made per day to your parents compared to your friends? How much time you spend a day communicating with your parents compared to your friends? How often you hang out with your parents and accompany them compared to your friends?
Please be filial and treat your parents well. Treasure what you have now or else you will regret for life!

Information on family visit:
- Face-To-Face Visit is only allowed once in every 2 weeks and is 1 hour duration per hour. Only inmate’s parents/ siblings/ spouse are allow for Face-To-Face Visit.

- The walking distance for the visitors from CPC entrance to the ‘Visit Room’ is about 15 minute’s journey. It is better for parents whom are unable to walk long distance to go for a Tele-visit instead.
For family members who are taking public transport to CPC, there are only 2 SBS buses (Bus No. 2 and 29) that will reach CPC.

- CPC is located somewhere nearby Changi Village.

- Click here for more information regarding Family Visits


Next Chapter: Books & Magazines
To Be Continued

[tafguy35]

Bro Gara, thanks for sharing. I learnt so much from you.

[Gara]

Chapter 5.3: Books and Magazines

First, I would like to thank one of my reader for sharing this quote with me after reading the Chapter 5.2: Family Visit. Below is what she wrote which is a description about Face-To-Face Family Visit:


"The husband is inside the iron bars,
the wife is outside the iron bars, looking in,
So near they are only separated by inches,
And yet so distant, like sky and depths of the sea.
What no words utter, their desperate eyes relate,
Before every word their eyes brim with tears.
Who could stand here and watch their meeting unmoved?"

For your information, a notifiication of admission/ transfer will be mailed to your family members after the inmate's admission which will provide infomation and details on the visiting's procedure .


Certain food items,books and magazines can be brought and given to the inmates by their families for the inmates' reading pleasure but it have to be screened (taked about 4 days) and censored before being given to the inmates. This is to prevent any obscene materials or hidden messages to get pass thru to the inmates.

Example: Any photos of rauchy dressed women like in lingeries or bikinis or pics that show abit of chest or stories or articles relating to sex, will be censored.

Only family members are entitled to such visits. Friends who wish to see the prisoners must get the approval of the Prison Dept before they are allowed to visit. The prisoner must make this request.

Anyone who had previously been in prison are not allowed to visit any other prisoners unless they are family member as well as get the permission from Prison Dept.

While on my way back to B4 after my family visit's session, I met and chat with another inmate who was being sentenced to jail due to loan shark activities...



Chapter 5.4: Loan Sharks

---To be Continued---

[ChinKooi]

If you say you want to do a Correspondence Degree course, will they let you goto library and study ?