Singapore’s judicial and correctional systems are increasingly prioritizing pre-sentencing intervention, with courts referring 543 individuals to community partners in 2025 to address mental health and social issues before sentencing. This shift reflects a broader strategy to tackle the root causes of criminal behavior, such as addiction, through early, rehabilitative support.
Scaling Early Intervention and Court-Based Referrals
The Singapore State Courts have significantly scaled up their use of community-based interventions, working with 19 partner organizations in 2026, a substantial increase from just two partners in 2008. The number of referrals for court users—who may struggle with mental health, substance abuse, or family dysfunction—has risen steadily, reaching 543 cases in 2025, compared to 509 in 2024 and 443 in 2023, according to CNA.
Legal professionals often utilize these services to provide a more holistic view of an offender’s circumstances. Lawyer Kalaithasan Karuppaya noted that he refers clients to such programs to resolve issues that fall outside the typical scope of legal practice. Similarly, lawyer James Gomez of Edmond Pereira Law Corporation uses these referrals to help courts understand mitigating factors like childhood trauma, which can assist in seeking more balanced sentencing.
Implementation of the PACT Program for Upstream Rehabilitation
A primary driver of this trend is the Pathways to Accountability, Change and Transformation (PACT) program, launched by the Centre for Psychotherapy (C4P) in January 2024. PACT focuses on “upstream rehabilitation,” intervening in the period between an individual being charged and their sentencing—a window that can range from four weeks to a year.
According to The Straits Times, the program has supported 97 offenders as of early 2026, with participants ranging from those involved in sexual crimes to financial and violent offenses. C4P senior counsellor and PACT founder Gopal Mahey emphasized that the program is not intended to dictate sentencing outcomes, but rather to disrupt cycles of harm.
“Receiving interim support, like counselling, as they proceed with their court cases, can be very helpful for them to gain insights into their offending behaviours. It’s in line with the court’s commitment to a justice system that is not only punitive but also rehabilitative and restorative.”Natalie Tan, senior court social worker, via Channel News Asia
Addressing Complex Mental Health Needs Within Prisons
For those who are incarcerated, the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) continues to manage mental health through specialized units. Data indicates that approximately 10 per cent of prisoners are diagnosed with mental disorders, with adjustment disorder and depressive episodes being the most common, as CNA.
Inmates with complex needs, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, are often housed in the Correctional Unit (Psychiatric) (PCU) at Changi Prison Complex. Established in 2011 and supported by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), the unit provides occupational therapy and counseling to help inmates develop functioning skills.
“We will ensure that inmates with mental health needs are not deprived of the opportunity for psychiatric rehabilitation, and our programme will allow them to better integrate into the society upon their release,” said Jason Lee, consultant and deputy chief of the department of forensic psychiatry at IMH, as noted in straitstimes.com.
Balancing Deterrent Penalties with Mandatory Rehabilitation
While the justice system emphasizes rehabilitation, the government has simultaneously tightened penalties for specific high-profile crimes, particularly scams and the abuse of etomidate, or “Kpods.” Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, maximum fines for users, sellers, and smugglers have been raised to $10,000, $200,000, and $300,000, respectively.
The Ministry of Health and the Health Sciences Authority reported that 256 people were ordered into mandatory rehabilitation in the first quarter of 2026 following vape-related offenses. The Ministry of Health mandates that first-time etomidate abusers attend rehabilitation for up to six months, focusing on education and counseling to break the cycle of addiction, rather than solely relying on prosecution.
As the authorities balance these deterrents with rehabilitative programs, the long-term effectiveness of these interventions remains a key metric for policymakers. With recidivism rates for the 2019 cohort standing at 20 per cent, the focus remains on whether early, sustained support can lower the risk of reoffending for future generations of offenders.
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