Triage and Pre-Court Diversionary Programmes

About

Law Enforcement Agencies can refer a youth arrested for an offence, for a Triage assessment to determine the youth’s suitability for pre-court diversionary programmes. 

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) will determine if the youth offender should be placed on Diversionary Programmes (DPs), taking into account the Triage assessment. The pre-Court Diversionary Programmes include the Guidance Programme, Streetwise Programme, and Youth Enhanced Supervision Scheme. 

The Triage and DPs are run by MSF-appointed social service agencies (SSAs), known as Integrated Service Providers (ISPs).

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Triage

Youth offenders may be referred by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

The Triage assessment is conducted by an ISP officer who will interview the youth and their parents/caregivers to assess the youth’s risk of re-offending. The assessment will help Law Enforcement Agencies and AGC determine the appropriate response to the youth's offending behaviour. 
 
The AGC may place a youth offender on a diversionary programme in lieu of prosecution. The youth will then be rehabilitated in the community, diverted away from the Court system. If placed on diversionary programmes, the youth may attend one of the following:

• Guidance Programme
• Youth Enhanced Supervision Scheme
• Streetwise Programme

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Guidance Programme (GP)

The Guidance Programme (GP) is a 6-month diversionary programme for youths who committed minor offences. Youths who attend the diversionary programme are given a conditional warning in lieu of Court prosecution. Depending on their progress as well as risks and needs, the programme can be extended by up to 6 months.

Using a case management approach, the caseworker engages the youth in a series of individual, group-based and family sessions where the youth will learn about:

• Taking responsibility for their actions;
• Solving problems and conflicts in a pro-social manner;
• Forming healthy relationships with others;
• Being meaningfully engaged in school or work; and
• Managing emotions positively.

The family’s and school’s involvement are critical for the youth’s successful rehabilitation. Parents and school personnel are strongly encouraged to play an active role in supporting the youth during and after the programme.

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Youth Enhanced Supervision Scheme

The Youth Enhanced Supervision Scheme is a 6-month programme targeted at youths below 21 years of age and arrested by CNB for drug consumption for the first time. For youths arrested by HSA for etomidate use for the first and second time, they will be placed on a 3-month or 6-month programme respectively. 

The Scheme complements the Central Narcotics Bureau’s (CNB) and Health Sciences Authority’s (HSA) urine supervision regime by providing rehabilitation through casework and counselling. Depending on the youth’s progress and risks and needs, it may be extended by up to 6 months. 

Using a case management approach, the caseworker engages the youth in a series of individual, group-based and family sessions, focusing on the youth’s motivation for change and teaching the youth new skills to stay away from drugs. The family’s and school’s involvement are key to the youth’s successful rehabilitation. Parents are equipped with effective parenting approaches to support the youth in staying drug-free.

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Streetwise Programme

The Streetwise Programme (SWP) is a 6-month intervention programme for youths who played a minor role in gang-related offences, or with gangs. Concurrently, the youths are required to report regularly to the police and comply with specific restrictions, including not associating with certain individuals and visiting designated locations or areas. Depending on the progress and risks and needs of the youth, the programme may be extended by up to 6 months.

Using a case management approach, the caseworker engages the youths in a series of individual, group-based and family sessions where the youth will learn to:

• Understand the social and legal consequences of being in a gang;
• Dissociate from gangs and form healthy relationships with others;
• Solve problems and conflicts in a pro-social manner;
• Be meaningfully engaged in school or work; and
• Manage emotions positively.

Parents and schools are strongly encouraged to play an active role and participate in the programme. Their involvement and support from the outset of the programme will be critical for the youth’s successful completion of the programme and rehabilitation.

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Integrated Service Providers and Contact

The Integrated Service Providers (ISPs) are MSF-appointed social service agencies (SSAs) that partner MSF to deliver a suite of services primarily for youth offenders below 21 years of age. There are 10 ISPs as of May 2026, located island-wide.