Expert exchanges: Commissioner of Correctional Services Kwok Leung-ming presents a souvenir to world-renowned Canadian clinical psychologist Dr Ralph Serin, who conducted the workshop.

Renowned Canadian clinical psychologist Dr Ralph Serin is leading a Correctional Services Department workshop focused on violent offenders' assessment and treatment. About 60 local and overseas' participants are taking advantage of the opportunity to share their ideas and experience. 

In Hong Kong, about 20% of the 11,000 penal-system inmates were convicted of serious violent offences. Professional assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of these violent offenders is one of the department's main aims.

The courts and relevant statutory bodies require its clinical psychologists to provide professional consultation to violent offenders, and assessment reports to facilitate sentencing and release decisions.

They have designed a violence-prevention programme for violent offenders and perpetrators of domestic violence, to help them understand violence and manage their anger.

The department organised the three-day event to help meet its aim to enhance professional development and experience exchanges, and to improve inmates' behaviour through the effective treatment, management and supervision of high-risk offenders.