In the world behind bars in Singapore, the acronym “SOP” refers to the Superintendent of Prisons, the authority figure overseeing the correctional facility. Yet, for one inmate in his 60s, “SOP” took on a personal meaning.
He called himself a “son of prison”, a stark reflection of his identity shaped by over 40 years of being in and out of incarceration, says Superintendent (Supt) Samuel Sia of the Singapore Prison Service (SPS), who was tasked to aid in the inmate’s rehabilitation as his senior correctional unit officer.
“He was abusing drugs as a coping mechanism and, after many years in prison, I could sense that he was defeatist about his life,” he says.
The inmate was also estranged from his daughter, having missed her birth and growing-up years. The possibility of reconnecting with her inspired the inmate to change his ways, says Supt Sia.
“Rehabilitating recalcitrant offenders takes a lot of time and effort. You need to find what motivates them,” he adds.
Helping inmates rebuild their lives, restore their fractured relationships and break the cycle of reoffending are key aspects of rehabilitation that make the work of prison officers – or “Captains of Lives”, as SPS calls them – deeply meaningful.
“Rehabilitation is not always smooth sailing, but that’s what makes the results more satisfying and meaningful,” says Supt Sia.
When the inmate’s daughter finally found him and reached out, Supt Sia encouraged him to meet her and stay out of trouble so that he could recoup the many lost years with her. Now in her 40s, the inmate’s daughter was willing to start building their relationship afresh.
“I told him, ‘You have this opportunity now; if you don’t hold on to it, you will lose it forever’.”
Passionate about helping others from a young age, Supt Sia sought a career that would allow him to change the lives of others. A career aptitude test in junior college (JC) initially pointed him to jobs in social services or – like his mother – in education.
However, it was through participating in an experiential learning programme with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in JC that he discovered his true calling.
The programme took him to prison institutions such as the former Kaki Bukit Centre (Prison School), where he was able to better understand the meaningful roles of prison officers in keeping Singapore safe and secure.
As a teenager with no prior experience of visiting correctional facilities, his impression of prisons was based on what was depicted in Hong Kong crime movies: chaotic, violent and full of prisoners fighting for power. However, a learning visit to a prison showed him a different story. He watched a video of women inmates reuniting with their children during a Mother’s Day event and was moved by SPS’s efforts in helping inmates renew bonds with their families.
“Rehabilitation is not always smooth sailing, but that’s what makes the results more satisfying and meaningful.”
– Superintendent Samuel Sia, recipient of the MHA Uniformed Scholarship (SPS)
“It was a heartwarming and touching video, and it made me realise that being part of the rehabilitation process was something I really wanted to do,” recalls Supt Sia. He was awarded the Local Merit Scholarship under the MHA Uniformed Scholarship scheme in 2009 to pursue a Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Consulting) at Nanyang Technological University.
The experiential learning programme dispelled his stereotype of prison officers as strict enforcers focused only on maintaining law and order behind bars. Having become a prison officer himself, he is also able to directly impact inmates’ lives by guiding them to the relevant resources and support systems, restoring their dignity and helping to reconcile broken families who have been affected by incarceration.
“A prison sentence is a punishment for a crime committed, but it should also make a difference in the person’s life, where possible,” reflects Supt Sia.
Today, having risen up the ranks to senior assistant director at the rehabilitation management branch at SPS, Supt Sia is in a position where he can make even more of an impact. He works with and supports prison superintendents to review, set and improve rehabilitation policies and processes.
In the case of the inmate in his 60s, encouraging him to rebuild the father-daughter relationship proved to be pivotal in his rehabilitation. After completing his prison sentence, the inmate underwent the Mandatory Aftercare Scheme and was even joined a cycling support group.
“Rehabilitation is not about a complete transformation but we try our best to assist with every step along the way so that they can become better members of society. That is the longer-term and sustainable solution to keep Singapore safe and secure,” he says.
| Becoming a Captain of Lives After over a decade in service with Singapore Prison Service (SPS), Superintendent (Supt) Samuel Sia has taken on various roles that contribute towards helping offenders break the cycle of crime. Here is a look at his journey: July 2009 – July 2012 Awarded scholarship Supt Sia received the Local Merit Scholarship under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Uniformed Scholarship scheme for his Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Consulting) at Nanyang Technological University. July 2012 – Jan 2013 Prison officer training The mandatory Prison Officer (Rehabilitation Officer) course consisted of a residential phase at the Home Team Academy and training at one of the prison institutions. This course equipped Supt Sia with the relevant skills and knowledge to take on his role in SPS. Jan 2013 – Aug 2014 Start of his career in SPS Supt Sia started out as a housing unit officer at Changi Prison Complex, leading a team of seven officers to handle almost 300 inmates in the maximum-security unit. Aug 2014 – Nov 2017 Shaped prisons of the future He took on a staff role at the strategic planning division where he planned the long-term budget of SPS by tapping new technology to develop prisons of the future. During this period, he was sent on study trips to learn about international best practices in incarceration. This included a trip to Romania in 2016 to attend the International Corrections and Prisons Association’s 18th Annual Conference. Nov 2017 – Oct 2020 Secondment to MHA Supt Sia’s third role brought him further afield to cross-border interactions with foreign counterparts. In a secondment to the international cooperation and partnership division at MHA Headquarters, he was able to travel to various countries to attend conferences, such as the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting to advance Singapore’s interests in homeland security. Oct 2020 – Aug 2023 Officer-in-charge of a correctional unit in a maximum-security institution Apart from driving rehabilitation efforts, the scholar ensured smooth daily operations of the correctional unit in a maximum-security institution by leading his team of about 20 officers in enforcing security measures and maintaining inmate discipline. Aug 2023 – Jun 2024 Study break for a master’s degree To better contribute to SPS, Supt Sia embarked on a one-year study break to pursue a Master of Science in Strategic Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Nanyang Technological University. The classes on international human rights and terrorism helped him to understand the bigger picture of Singapore’s security. Jun 2024 Return to SPS After completing his master’s, Supt Sia returned to SPS last month as a senior assistant director at the rehabilitation management branch, where he helps to improve rehabilitation policies and processes. |
| About the MHA Uniformed Scholarship Depending on your interests and aspirations, this scholarship will allow you to kick-start your leadership journey as a uniformed officer in one of five Home Team departments: Singapore Police Force (SPF), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Prison Service (SPS) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) or as a paramedic with SCDF. |