Life in SPS is not all about breaking secret codes and investigating cases. It also involves cultivating the growth of inmates.

By Tang Pin-Ji

The ability to make a difference to others’ lives in a supportive uniformed organisation – that’s Alvin Tan’s idea of a career.

Inspired by the tagline “Captains of Lives” that appeared in a recruitment ad for the Singapore Prison Service (SPS), and having researched into the agency’s core mission and objectives, Alvin made the decision to pursue a career there. Due to the nature of the job, he had to undergo a series of selection tests and interviews conducted by a panel of experienced officers to assess his suitability for the organisation.

Today, as a Senior Personal Supervisor of Cluster B in Institution B1, Alvin regularly interacts with inmates to find out if they have any personal issues and finds ways to assist them. He also tries to help the inmates to cultivate good habits, while ensuring they adhere to a certain level of discipline.

Says Alvin, who has been in SPS for almost three years, “I’ve always believed in this statement: ‘one successfully reformed inmate, one less threat to society’. We are here to protect society by helping them reform.”

In carrying that out, Alvin has to be firm and impartial to inmates when it comes to enforcing the dos and don’ts of prison life.

His other duties include censoring inmates’ letters to weed out “secret codes” within its contents that relay unpermitted messages. He also supervises inmates as they attend programmes and courses to acquire relevant skills and knowledge to aid their reintegration into society after their release.

According to Alvin, computer courses are popular among the young inmates. “Some knowledge of computers is very useful to any individual today. Inmates equipped with these skills would also find it easier to get jobs after they leave the prison,” says the 28-year-old Information Technology graduate from Nanyang Polytechnic.

The road to recovery
The inmates’ road to reformation and reintegration is a “long and slow” one, as every inmate has different habits and personality traits, and hence requires different approaches. Therefore, patience and perseverance are important attributes in Alvin’s line of work.

“Patience is needed to study each and every one of their characters, in order for us to assist them in their problems. Thus, we have new challenges every day,” he explains. “Here, we try to cultivate good habits in them before they are released and it is an ongoing thing to get inmates to try and change for the better.”

Alvin fondly recalls a memorable incident that took place once while dining out with his family. “One guy came up to say hello, and thanked me for helping him during his stay in prison. To us officers, a simple yet unexpected gesture like that is a very satisfying experience.”

Opportunities for growth
Alvin himself is grateful to SPS for making him a more well-rounded person. Apart from learning to be calm in handling various situations, he has also managed to upgrade his skills by taking up courses like Suicide Management, which has taught him to detect the telltale signs of a person with suicidal tendencies.

With regard to career progression, Alvin looks forward to trying his hand at a host of different appointments in SPS. He can choose to deal with investigative work by going into Security and Provost, expand his knowledge with the Intelligence Unit, or handle external movements by escorting inmates to hospital for medical checkups with the Escort Pool.

Alvin fully appreciates his first experience being in a uniformed organisation. However, he admits that his career choice initially raised a few eyebrows among his friends who were mostly worried for his safety. But he has never looked back on his decision, and the teamwork and bonds built with his colleagues keep him going.

“Everyone here takes care of each other. When someone is in need of help, the others are always ready to help him. With all these colleagues around, I feel satisfied. One man alone cannot do so much, but many people together can create wonders,” adds Alvin.

Alvin describes his job as “challenging yet rewarding” and believes that those who aspire to make a difference in the lives of others should consider a career with SPS.

“Maybe he or she can be someone’s role model some day,” he quips.