About Singapore Prison Service Volunteers - Befriending Programme

An offender needs a network of pro-social peers that encompasses friends, mentors and befrienders, to support his reintegration efforts into the community. Befrienders provide a positive pro-social support network for offenders, especially those without strong family support. Research has shown that positive peer influence has the potential to prevent re-offending by allowing an offender to meet his social and other needs in lawful ways. Singapore Prison Service welcomes individuals with a passion to serve and wants to make a difference in the lives of others, to sign up as a Befriender. The Befriending Programme comprises two key phases. In the Incare Phase (when the offender is in Prisons), Befrienders will engage the offenders through visits, letter writing and phone calls. In the Aftercare phase (after the offender has been released from Prisons), Befrienders, will continue to provide a listening ear and moral support to help offenders adjust in the community upon their release and work with the offenders’ network of support such as the reintegration officers.