Kids at Prison

SEAMEO delegates and I went to visit Prison School few days ago. It was okay, we were thoroughly checked up and down by the prison officer prior to getting into the prison. I couldn't bring anything other than myself and the clothes I was wearing. I couldn't bring the camera in.

We were introduced to the system of the prison and the types of offence committed by the detainees. Some that I remembered:

-Section 302 : First degree murder
-Section 376 / 377: First degree sexual offender

The uniform system in the juvenile prison:
-White shirt: less than 3 months
-Red shirt: 3-6 months
-Green shirt: 6-12 months
-Blue shirt: 12-15 months
-Dark blue shirt: excellent prisoner
-White shirt with red sleeve: capital punishment
-White shirt with blue stripes: escaped from police detainment before recaptured
-White shirt with green stripes: escaped from juvenile prison

etc.

I got to talk to them. They were nice kids, some of them are brilliant. They just need a second chance. Some of them come from families who simply do not care. An officer told us that sometimes, parents do not know that their kids were in prison until months later. And if they knew, they simply shunned away or ignored them. These kids, they have great artistic skill, it shows in their Skills class, where they have to produce t-shirts, mugs, calendars and designing stuff. Their classes are well-equipped and they get to go to class according to their ability instead of age. So a few managed to be undergraduates at the age of 17+. They were given as much attention as a caring parent would do. Honestly, these kids have better chance than kids outside the walls.

I am so disturbed since it's a kid's prison.

There is one case where this kid stole a can of Coke. The owner of the shop pressed charges and the bail out was RM1000. The kid's family was poor so they could not afford to bail him out. So he was sent to prison for one whole year.

Most of them come from low income families who cannot afford to bail them out.

I can't forget their eyes.

I can't forget the block where they stationed young criminals in death row. I saw white shirt with red sleeves hanging on the laundry lines outside the block and I knew that is one image I will never forget for the rest of my life.

I believe in second chance. Heck, third chance why not.