PART VIII | Records to be kept upon admission and searches |
74.—(1) A record of each prisoner must be created on admission and kept updated.(2) A prisoner’s record must contain the following information:| (a) | the prisoner’s name; | | (b) | the prisoner’s identification number; | | (c) | a photograph of the prisoner; | | (d) | the prisoner’s fingerprints and any of the prisoner’s physiological data necessary for identifying or authenticating the identity of the prisoner using a biometric authenticating system; | | (e) | any other information about the prisoner that the Commissioner may require. |
|
| (3) Every prisoner must be searched on admission and whenever a prison officer reasonably suspects that the prisoner has any prohibited article in the prisoner’s possession. |
(4) The following procedures apply to any search mentioned in paragraph (3):| (a) | a prison officer searching a prisoner may use any equipment that is approved by the Commissioner; | | (b) | a female prisoner must only be searched by a female prison officer; | | (c) | any article or document found on a prisoner must, if the prisoner is not allowed to keep it, be taken from the prisoner and be inventoried; | | (d) | every article or document taken from a prisoner upon admission must be kept in storage or returned to the prisoner’s family, unless it is of a perishable or dangerous nature, then it may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of. |
|
[S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| Examination by medical officer upon admission |
74A.—(1) A prisoner must be examined by a medical officer as soon as possible after admission.| (2) The medical officer examining a prisoner must record the state of health of the prisoner and any other particulars that the medical officer considers necessary. |
[S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| Examination of prisoners for infectious diseases |
| 75.—(1) The Commissioner may, at any time, require any prisoner to undergo a medical examination by the medical officer for the purposes of ascertaining whether the prisoner is suffering from, or is a carrier of, any infectious disease. [S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] | (2) Where a prisoner refuses to undergo the medical examination under paragraph (1) or refuses to provide any sample necessary for the purposes of such examination, the medical officer shall forthwith give a written notification to the Superintendent. |
| (3) The Superintendent may, upon receipt of the written notification under paragraph (2), direct that the prisoner be detained separately from other prisoners until such time when the prisoner undergoes the required medical examination. |
| (4) Where a prisoner has been ascertained to be suffering from, or is a carrier of, any infectious disease under this regulation, the medical officer shall forthwith give a written report to the Superintendent. |
| (5) The Superintendent may, upon receipt of the written report by the medical officer under paragraph (4), direct that the prisoner be detained separately from other prisoners until the medical officer certifies that the prisoner is free from infection or the risk of spreading the infectious disease to other persons is eliminated. |
| (6) [Deleted by S 720/2022 wef 02/09/2022] |
|
| Confidentiality in handling of prisoners with AIDS and other sexually transmitted disease |
76. Where, in consequence of any action taken under regulation 75, any person is aware or has reasonable grounds for believing that a prisoner has Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or is infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or is suffering from a sexually transmitted disease or is a carrier of that disease, the person shall not disclose any information which may identify the prisoner except —| (a) | with the consent of the prisoner; | | (b) | in accordance with regulation 75; | | (c) | when ordered to do so by a court; | | (d) | to any person who is treating, caring or handling the prisoner; | | (e) | to the victim of a sexual assault by the prisoner; or | | (f) | where such disclosure is allowed under section 25 of the Infectious Diseases Act 1976. [S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
|
| 77. [Deleted by S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
78.—(1) European and Eurasian prisoners sentenced to imprisonment for any period exceeding one month shall have their hair cut short and their beards, whiskers and moustaches (if worn) trimmed close.| (2) Those who wear no hair on their faces, or a moustache only, shall be shaved as often as may be necessary to preserve a clean and decent appearance. |
| (3) The hair of female prisoners shall not be cut on admission or afterwards unless the medical officer shall consider it to be necessary for health and cleanliness. |
| (4) Every prisoner shall take a bath on admission and thereafter twice daily unless it shall be otherwise ordered by the medical officer. |
| (5) The hair of prisoners awaiting trial shall be kept, as far as cleanliness permits, in the same state as it was on admission. |
|
79.—(1) Male and female prisoners must be kept separate from one another.| (2) The Commissioner may separate prisoners into different categories to be subject to different regimes to facilitate the rehabilitation of prisoners and the maintenance of good order and discipline in the prison. |
[S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| 80. Every male prisoner shall, if the accommodation of the prison permits, be confined at night in a separate cell duly certified as sufficient to contain one prisoner. |
| 81. [Deleted by S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| Treatment of female prisoners |
82.—(1) A male person (including a male prison officer) must not attend to, or otherwise be in a room with, a female prisoner unless he is accompanied by a female person who is not a prisoner.| (2) However, in the event of an emergency, a male person (including a male prison officer) may attend to, or otherwise be in a room with, a female prisoner, to respond to the emergency if he is, as far as is reasonably practicable, accompanied by another prison officer. |
| (3) Where any male person (including a male prison officer) attends to, or must otherwise be in a room with, a female prisoner in accordance with paragraph (2), he must make a report of the incident to the Superintendent as soon as possible. |
(4) In this regulation, “emergency” means an actual or imminent event that causes, or threatens to cause —| (a) | any harm or danger to the life, health or safety of any female prisoner; or | | (b) | any destruction of, or danger to, any property. |
|
[S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| 83. Female prisoners shall be classified, as far as possible, and known prostitutes shall be kept in a separate ward by themselves. |
| 84. [Deleted by S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| Child born during imprisonment |
85.—(1) The Commissioner may allow a child born to a female prisoner during her imprisonment to stay with the prisoner if the Commissioner considers this to be in the child’s best interests, having regard to the female prisoner’s fitness to care for the child.| (2) Otherwise, a child born to a female prisoner must be placed under alternative care outside of prison as soon as practicable. |
| (3) A child allowed to stay with a female prisoner under paragraph (1) must be provided with basic necessities, adequate nutrition and healthcare. |
| (4) The female prisoner is responsible for the safety and care of the child while the child stays with her. |
[S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| Confinement of prisoners below 15 years of age |
86.—(1) Prisoners considered to be below 15 years of age, whether male or female, shall be kept apart from adults, being, if possible, confined in separate buildings.| (2) Any prisoner who declares himself to be more than 15 years of age but who, in the opinion of the Superintendent and the medical officer, should not, having regard to his character, constitution and antecedents, be classed with adult prisoners shall be treated as a juvenile offender. |
|
| 87. [Deleted by S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| Grooming for Asian prisoners |
88.—(1) Asian prisoners sentenced to imprisonment for any period exceeding one month, who are in the habit of shaving their heads, shall be shaved once a week.| (2) The hair of other Asian prisoners, except Sikhs, shall be cut close. |
| (3) Tamil prisoners admitted with long hair shall be allowed to retain it. |
|
| 89. [Deleted by S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
| 90. No prisoner shall have his hair cut, except with his own consent, until the time allowed for appealing has expired without appeal, or until his sentence has been confirmed on appeal. |
| Grooming in last month of imprisonment |
| 91. During the prisoner’s last month of imprisonment his hair shall be allowed to remain uncut and unshaven should the prisoner desire it. |
| 92. Soldiers convicted of breaches of military discipline only, shall so far as may be practicable having regard to the prison accommodation and the circumstances of the case, be kept separate and distinct from prisoners convicted of offences of an immoral, dishonest, shameful or criminal character. |
| Photographs and finger impressions |
93.—(1) Every prisoner may, if required for the purposes of justice, be photographed on reception and subsequently, but no copy of the photograph shall be given to any person unless he is officially authorised to receive it.| (2) The finger impressions of every prisoner may also be taken. |
| (3) When the conviction in consequence of which a prisoner has been imprisoned is reversed on appeal and the prisoner is ordered to be acquitted and discharged the Superintendent shall, on the application of the person who was so imprisoned, deliver to that person the sheet upon which his finger impressions were taken together with all photographs taken of him (both negatives and prints) in connection with his reception into prison in consequence of the conviction which has been reversed on appeal. |
| (4) If no such application shall have been received by him within 3 months from the date of the order of acquittal and discharge, the Superintendent shall destroy such sheet and photographs. |
| (5) The reversal on appeal of a conviction shall not necessitate the return to the person who had been imprisoned on that conviction of any record of finger impressions or of any photographs taken in connection with any other conviction of that person. |
|
|
| Examination before discharge |
94.—(1) All convicted prisoners prior to being discharged or to being removed to any other prison, shall be examined by the medical officer.| (2) A similar examination shall be made of all banishees and vagrants immediately before the date of deportation. |
|
| Prisoners suffering from acute or dangerous disease |
| 95. No prisoner shall be discharged, except upon his own requisition, whilst suffering from any acute or dangerous disease until the medical officer shall certify that such discharge is safe. |
| Upon discharge prisoners to receive own clothing |
96.—(1) On the discharge of a prisoner his own clothes shall be returned to him, unless it has been found necessary to destroy them, in which case he shall be provided with such clothing as the Superintendent considers suitable.| (2) The prison clothing shall be well washed, disinfected and dried before being returned to store or issued to another prisoner. |
|
| 97. If a prisoner is entitled to be released on a Sunday or a public holiday, the prisoner must be released on the preceding day. [S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
|
| 98. [Deleted by S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| Maximum forfeiture of remission |
| 99. The maximum periods of forfeiture of remission which may be ordered under the following sections of the Act shall be as follows: |
| Lapsing of order of forfeiture of remission |
| 99A. Any order of forfeiture of remission made in respect of a prisoner remanded for an offence is to be treated as lapsed upon the prisoner’s release from remand, even if the prisoner is subsequently sentenced to imprisonment for the offence. [S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
| Maximum reduction in grade or postponement of promotion |
| 100. The maximum periods of reduction in grade or postponement of promotion which may be ordered under the following sections of the Act shall be as follows: |
|
| Hours when prisoners unlocked from cells |
101.—(1) The Superintendent shall determine the hours when a prisoner shall be unlocked from his cell and shall be finally locked up for the night.| (2) The Superintendent may fix different hours for different categories of prisoners. |
|
| Maximum daily hours of work |
| 102. A prisoner who is allowed to work under section 67 of the Act may not work in a prison for more than 8 hours a day unless the prisoner consents to do so. [S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| 103. [Deleted by S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
104.—(1) On production of an order from an Assistant Superintendent of Police or from a Magistrate, any police officer may, at any reasonable time, visit any prison for the following purposes:| (a) | identifying offenders; | | (b) | photographing and taking particulars of prisoners who have been directed to be subject to the supervision of the police; and | | (c) | taking statements from prisoners considered necessary for any investigation under Part 4 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 or for any enquiry under the Banishment Act 1959. [S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| (2) Officers of the law with competent Warrants or Orders for serving writs or other legal process on persons within the prison shall be admitted into the prisons at any reasonable time for that purpose. |
|
|
| Observation of prisoners awaiting trial on capital charges |
| 105. The Superintendent must ensure that every prisoner awaiting trial on capital charges is kept under close observation on the prisoner’s mental and physical condition. [S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
106.—(1) The clothes of the prisoners and their bed-clothes shall be aired, changed and washed as often as the medical officer may direct.| (2) The clothes of prisoners shall be changed weekly. |
|
| Time out of accommodation |
107.—(1) Subject to the need to maintain good order and discipline in the prison and paragraph (2), every prisoner is to be given the opportunity to spend time out of the prisoner’s cell and for such period as may be allowed or specified by the Superintendent.(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any prisoner —| (a) | who is confined in a punishment cell; or | | (b) | who is subject to a regime by the Commissioner under regulation 79(2) where time out of the prisoner’s cell is restricted, |
| unless the medical officer of the prison certifies that it is necessary for the prisoner’s health that the prisoner be given such opportunity. |
|
[S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| 108. A proper room, or infirmary shall be set apart for sick prisoners, the separation between males and female, juveniles and adults, being strictly maintained. |
| 109. All prisoners may be vaccinated or re-vaccinated at the discretion of the medical officer. |
|
110. Every prisoner must be provided with regular meals that are —| (a) | in terms of nutritional value, adequate for the basic health of the prisoner, taking into account the prisoner’s daily energy requirements; and | | (b) | appropriate for the prisoner’s medical condition, in accordance with the directions of the medical officer. [S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
|
| 111. [Deleted by S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
| 112. [Deleted by S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
| 113. [Deleted by S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
|
| Instruction and Recreation |
114.—(1) The holding of religious services for prisoners must be consistent with prison discipline and security.| (2) Ministers of religion may be allowed in every facility consistent with prison discipline and security to visit prisoners. |
| (3) Without limiting paragraph (1), a Muslim prisoner is allowed to observe the fast of Ramadan, subject to any medical considerations. |
[S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| Reading material and recreation |
115.—(1) A prisoner must not receive or keep any reading material unless allowed by the Superintendent.| (2) The Superintendent may confiscate any reading material with objectionable content. |
| (3) The Superintendent may allow recreation for the prisoners, subject to the considerations of discipline and good order. |
[S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| 116. [Deleted by S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] |
| 117. [Deleted by S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] |
| 118. [Deleted by S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] |
| 119. [Deleted by S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] |
| 120. [Deleted by S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] |
| 121. [Deleted by S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] |
| 122. [Deleted by S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] |
| 123. [Deleted by S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] |
| 124. [Deleted by S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] |
| 125. [Deleted by S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] |
| 126. [Deleted by S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] |
|
| 127.—(1) A prisoner has the privilege of sending and receiving letters every month, in accordance with the conditions specified in the Prison Standing Orders, for purposes of maintaining ties with the prisoner’s family and friends. [S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] | (2) Subject to paragraph (3), a prisoner has the privilege of receiving visits by such individuals, at such frequency and on such conditions, as allowed or specified in the Prison Standing Orders. [S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
(3) The following prisoners may not receive a visit without the Superintendent’s permission:| (a) | a prisoner detained under a banishment order under the Banishment Act 1959; [S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] | | (b) | a prisoner who is ordered to be removed from Singapore under the Immigration Act 1959 and detained pending removal. [S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] [S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
|
| (4) The Superintendent may authorise any prisoner whose conduct and industry has been excellent, to receive visitors in a room provided for the purpose, and not within the normal visiting cubicles. [S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
| (5) A prison officer shall supervise this visiting room. |
| (6) [Deleted by S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
| (7) So far as is practicable and is in the opinion of the Superintendent desirable, a prisoner shall be encouraged and assisted to maintain or establish such relations with persons or agencies outside the prison as may promote the best interests of the prisoner’s family or his social rehabilitation. |
| (8) The Superintendent may at any time communicate to a prisoner or to his family or friends, any matter of importance to such prisoner. |
| (9) A prisoner shall be allowed to write one letter to inform a relative or a friend of his transfer to another prison. |
| (10) No other visits or communications shall be permitted except as hereafter specially provided, without the order in writing of the Minister or the Commissioner. [S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] |
|
| Screening and recording of letters |
127A.—(1) Every letter sent by or to a prisoner may be opened and read by a prison officer.| (2) A copy may be made of every letter sent by or to a prisoner. |
| (3) A letter sent by or to a prisoner may be withheld if it contains anything that affects the security or good order of the prison. |
| (4) Paragraphs (2) and (3) do not apply to letters written by a prisoner to the prisoner’s legal adviser and letters written by a prisoner’s legal adviser. [S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
|
127B.—(1) A prisoner represented by a legal adviser may, for the purposes in paragraph (2) —| (a) | be visited by the legal adviser at reasonable times during working days; and | | (b) | write letters to and receive letters from the legal adviser. |
(2) The purposes mentioned in paragraph (1) are as follows:| (a) | preparing for criminal proceedings in which the prisoner is an accused person; | | (b) | such other purposes as the Superintendent may allow. [S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
|
|
| Prison officer present at visits |
| 128. A prison officer shall be present during the whole or every such visit. [S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
129.—(1) Every visitor to a prisoner must provide the prison officer conducting the visit with his or her personal particulars necessary for the verification of the visitor’s identity.(2) Any visitor to a prisoner may be searched by a prison officer or an authorised auxiliary police officer, and the search —| (a) | must not take place in the presence of any prisoner or of another visitor; | | (b) | must be conducted with due regard to decency; and | | (c) | if the visitor is female, must be carried out by a female prison officer or female authorised auxiliary police officer. |
|
(3) A prison officer or an authorised auxiliary police officer conducting a search mentioned in paragraph (2) may impound any article found during the search if the officer is of the opinion that the article —| (a) | is prohibited under the Act, any regulations made under the Act, or the Prison Standing Orders; | | (b) | is likely to be dangerous to the health or life of any prisoner; or | | (c) | is likely to facilitate any prisoner’s escape from the prison. |
|
(4) A visitor may be refused entry to a prison if —| (a) | the visitor refuses to be searched by a prison officer or an authorised auxiliary police officer; or | | (b) | the prison officer conducting the visit, or an authorised auxiliary police officer, is of the opinion that the entry of the visitor would be prejudicial to the security or good order of the prison. |
|
| (5) Where a visitor is refused entry under paragraph (4), the prison officer conducting the visit or authorised auxiliary police officer (as the case may be) must record the grounds of refusal in a report to the Superintendent. |
| (6) In this regulation, “authorised auxiliary police officer” means an auxiliary police officer employed by the Commissioner for the purposes of this regulation. |
[S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| Visitor barred from visiting prisoner |
130.—(1) The Superintendent may prohibit visits by a visitor to a prison or a prisoner in a prison for any period of time as the Superintendent considers necessary if the visitor has —| (a) | insulted, intimidated, threatened or harassed any prison officer, auxiliary police officer, or any other person working in the prison, in relation to the execution of the duty of the officer or person; or | | (b) | otherwise engaged in any conduct that, in the opinion of the Superintendent, may —| (i) | have a detrimental influence or effect on a prisoner; or | | (ii) | affect the security or good order of the prison, or the security or safety of a prisoner or any other person. |
|
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to —| (a) | any visits to a prison or prisoner by a Visiting Justice; or | | (b) | any visits by a prisoner’s legal adviser mentioned in regulation 127B(1)(a). |
|
[S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| 130. [Deleted by S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
| Additional visits and letters |
| 131. The Superintendent may, in his discretion, permit additional visits or letters under circumstances which in his opinion warrant special consideration. |
| Forfeiture of letters and visits for misconduct |
| 132. The privilege of writing and receiving letters and of receiving visits may be postponed or forfeited at any time for misconduct at the discretion of the Superintendent. |
133.—(1) All prisoners may petition the President on the subject of their conviction or sentence once shortly after conviction if they wish, but not afterwards, unless —| (a) | there are any special circumstances which the Superintendent may consider should be brought to the notice of the President; or | | (b) | such prisoner has been over one year in prison and not less than one year has elapsed since the date of his last petition. |
| (2) All prisoners may petition the President on any other subject at any time, provided that no petition shall be permitted if a reply to a previous petition on the same subject is still outstanding. |
|
|
| Unauthorised communications |
| 134. No prisoner shall hold any sort of unauthorised communication with any person. |
| 135. No prisoner shall have in his possession any article not expressly allowed by the Commissioner. [S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| 136. [Deleted by S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
|
| Restraint of Refractory Prisoners |
| Use of restraints on prisoners |
137.—(1) A prison officer must not use a restraint on a prisoner unless authorised under this regulation.(2) A prison officer may use a restraint on a prisoner only if all the following conditions are met:| (a) | the use of the restraint is necessary to prevent the prisoner from causing self‑injury, injuring others, or escaping; | | (b) | the restraint is of a type approved under the Prison Standing Orders; | | (c) | the restraint is used in a way approved under the Prison Standing Orders; | | (d) | the restraint is removed immediately once it is no longer necessary. |
|
| (3) To avoid doubt, a prison officer may not use a restraint on a prisoner as punishment. [S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
|
| 138. [Deleted by S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
|
139.—(1) This regulation applies to sentences of corporal punishment passed under section 71(1)(a) or 74(2)(b) of the Act.| (2) The sentence of corporal punishment must not be carried out within 24 hours of the sentence being imposed, unless the Commissioner considers it necessary. |
| (3) Corporal punishment cannot be carried out in instalments. |
| (4) The Superintendent and medical officer must be present when corporal punishment is being carried out. |
| (5) A rattan is to be used for all corporal punishment. |
(6) Any punishment with the rattan is to be inflicted in the following manner:| (a) | in the case of an adult prisoner — on his buttocks using a rattan that is no more than 1.25 centimetres in diameter; | | (b) | in the case of a juvenile prisoner — on his buttocks using a light rattan. |
|
| (7) The medical officer may give directions for preventing injury to other parts of the prisoner’s body as the medical officer considers necessary. |
[S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
140. Prisoners sentenced to confinement in cells for breaches of prison discipline shall —| (a) | see no one, save the officers of the prison in the execution of their duty, a minister of religion and the medical officer; and | | (b) | only have such outdoor exercise as the latter certifies is absolutely necessary for health. |
|
| 141. Such confinement shall not exceed an aggregate of more than 90 days in a year for any one prisoner, and the execution of any 2 consecutive sentences shall be separated by a period not shorter than the longer of such sentences. |
| Medical examination of prisoners sentenced to punishment |
| 142. Every prisoner ordered to undergo corporal punishment or confinement in a punishment cell under section 70, 71 or 74 of the Act must be examined by a medical officer to ascertain the prisoner’s fitness to undergo such punishment or confinement. [S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| Special clothing and bedding |
| 143. Prisoners undergoing punishment shall be supplied with such clothing and bedding as may be certified as essential by the medical officer. |
| Prisoners to be given opportunity of defence before punishment |
| 144. No prisoner shall be punished until he has had an opportunity of hearing the charges and evidence against him and of making his defence. |
| 145. [Deleted by S 35/2022 wef 18/01/2022] |
| 146. [Deleted by S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
| 147. [Deleted by S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
| 148. [Deleted by S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
| 149. [Deleted by S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
| 150. [Deleted by S 533/2018 wef 01/09/2018] |
| 151. [Deleted by S 447/2014 wef 01/07/2014] |
|
|
