Beyond Maximum Security

Come. Give me your pants.

When I do the search, I have to strip for people.

I also compare myself to, like, those prostitutes.

Quite humiliating.

B1 is a maximum-security institution.

It also houses inmates who are receiving violence intervention programs.

I cannot even be in contact with my mom

because of my stepbrother.

If anything happens to her, how am I supposed to forgive myself?

I will kill myself. I will just end my life.

I was apprehended for drug trafficking.

I really thought I was going to die.

Then I saw my counselor. He told me that,

"Now, they've decided to give you an offer."

Boon Keng, you will be undergoing a suitability assessment

for a community-based program.

Sir, may I hug you?

-It's okay. All the best. All right? -Yeah. Okay.

They caught me doing the tattoo.

My date of release was extended for 21 days

and four strokes of the cane.

Alpha Control can grant Three Bravo Dayroom Four,

Three Bravo side, for open yard. Tango.

There is someone who wanted to provoke me.

Provoke me in an indirect way because he will be shouting, insulting.

Although he didn't say names, but at that point of time,

everyone knows who he is talking about.

So, I tell myself I have to endure.

I'm about to enter the community-based program,

so I will do my best to stay out of trouble

so that I won't jeopardize my chances to enter the program.

Community-based program lets you go out earlier

to serve your sentence outside.

You can have more freedom.

Community-based program is a scheme

that allows suitable offenders to serve

the tail end of their sentence in the community.

They can do so at home,

in a halfway house, or at a work release center.

Last month, I went to this program placement panel

to interview with the Superintendent.

He gave me two choices.

One is the Work Release Scheme, one is Halfway House.

He asked me which one I wanted, so I said Halfway House.

Because, previously, I was there before, so I prefer going there.

But for now, the next few days, I will be transferred to B4.

There would be different courses for us to prepare to go out

for my community-based program.

So, in Cluster B, Institution B4 is the Pre-Release Center.

Inmates will go through programs geared towards the idea that

they will be re-joining society imminently

and then it preps them for job placement as well.

David, can you grant 623? 623.

Okay, Boon Keng,

you're transferring today to B4 for your pre-release program.

- Okay. -You can pack all your items.

Okay, come. Follow.

A few months ago, I was selected

for the two-month program for WRS,

which stands for Work Release Scheme.

The Work Release Scheme allows the inmates to go out to work in the day

and return to the Work Release Center in the evening.

So, before I go for my WRS,

I have to attend some programs that are in B4,

so that's why I need to transfer.

-This one belongs... here. - Library.

Okay, so you cannot bring it when you transfer.

-So, I will take back all the books. -Okay.

For transfer inmates, they are allowed

to bring their three sets of clothing,

their blanket, and some of their personal items.

So, whatever items not belongs to them,

which they loaned from our institution,

they must return to us before they are transferred to another institution.

So, I have to check whether there are any hidden items here

and also, you know, any additional pockets.

They are able to stitch and have a small pocket inside to hide things.

You drew this?

Yeah, just this one.

These are motivational quotes.

Okay. So, Boon Keng, all these things you are not supposed to have. Okay?

But anyway, the content is positive, but I still need to get approval.

Okay. Thank you, Sergeant.

So, once I get their approval, then I will update you if you can take it along.

Okay. Thank you, Sergeant.

Okay, Sharmil, zero one transfer.

Okay, Boon Keng, come.

Okay, I'm going off, guys.

- Okay! - Okay, bye!

Here. Come, Keng.

-Outside is more challenging. - Yes.

So, you need to be more patient. But you can do it.

- Hopefully, yeah. -

Graceson, you're going to B4 today.

Get ready to transfer.

Okay, Sergeant. Okay.

Alpha Control. Can grant Cell 4119, Cell 4119.

Come, Graceson. Lay out your items.

We do some checks before you transfer.

Okay.

You can start off by showing me your library books.

The library books are these three.

So, basically, we are looking for any unauthorized items.

Anything, like written messages,

where he can share, like, whatever information that he has here

to the inmates over at B4.

Or any sharp items, like needles, that he can bring over to the other institution.

-This one is... Bookmark. -Bookmark.

Your pen?

And your three photos as well.

Three photos.

So, whatever is inside your property card, you can bring it with you.

So, all of these that are not inside your property card,

I will confiscate them.

So, property card is basically a record card

for the inmates of what they have in their cells,

other than the prison-issued items.

They have their personal items, any medical, like this...

asthma pump, they can jot it down on this property card.

So, these are the items that I'm going to confiscate.

You can pack your items and get ready to transfer to B4.

-Okay. -Yeah?

That's every inmate's most disliked thing in prison,

a lot of things getting confiscated.

We get very angry, but we cannot do anything.

I can't wait to go to B4. Looking forward to it.

Because going there will start my journey to release.

For this community-based program,

actually, I didn't expect I will get it.

Because I did have these major offences before, like the tattooing.

And somehow, because all my cases are all violent,

so, I thought that I might not be eligible.

-Hey. - Hey!

- How are you? - How are you?

Hey!

Finally, we meet again.

They said that you've already left.

- Not yet. - Power!

How have you been?

Okay, gentlemen, I know you're happy. Relax.

Okay, I will just do a check first.

Ang Graceson.

- Yes, sir. -Inmate number?

-2-4-3-5-4-2019. -Okay.

-Tian Boon Keng. - Yes.

-Inmate number? -2-5-9-1-3.

Okay, thank you. Okay. Two of you, today is your big day.

You're going to Institution B4 Pre-Release Center for vocational training.

Two of you, any issues or complaints?

-No, sir. -No, sir.

Okay, I wish you all the best in your B4.

-Okay, take care. - Thank you, sir.

Alicia to Shoukry. Can you open the front slider, please?

In Institution B4, this is where we house inmates

who are nearing the end of their incarceration.

We believe that the physical environment plays a very important role

in helping them shape their mindset.

Our walls are painted with murals

and inspirational quotes in various languages.

LOVE IS LIKE A BRIGHT LIGHT.

IT NOT ONLY LIGHTS UP OTHERS' FUTURES BUT ALSO A MAN WHO'S SICK OF HOME.

So, other than the physical infrastructure that is different,

the Pre-Release Center here offers very different items

from the rest of the correctional units.

Under the Progressive Privileges System,

we focus a lot more on "release" items.

So, things like wallets and covered footwear.

So, what we hope is the inmates, upon their release,

they can bring out these items, such as a wallet,

to help them start on their new lives.

All the way to the blue table.

-Graceson and Boon Keng. Okay. - Yes, sir!

- You're both from B1, right? - Yes.

Both single man cell?

In B4, I think you should know, we are an eight-men cell.

So, the muster for fall-in is such that five people in front,

three people at the back, seated down, with shirt on.

In B1, do you come out from the cell with your shirt on?

No shirt.

Okay. Down here, everything is shirt on, except when you go to yard.

-Okay, that's all. Any questions? -No, sir.

Okay, I think both of you will be going to Dayroom Two.

It should be the same cell. Okay?

-Ready? Let's go. -Yeah.

Left. Turn left.

Okay, look for 611.

Fairuz to Pravin.

Open for me Cell 611. 611.

-Okay, slipper outside. - Yeah.

I couldn't bring my Progressive Privilege items.

- Oh, you couldn't bring it? - I only brought peanut butter.

I only have sambal chili given by a guy downstairs.

We were waiting for this day

because we can get on the same journey

and everything we can share together.

We've been saying if we can get together in one cell,

then we can go together for the program.

-It's God's plan. -Yeah, God's plan.

Now, I sleep beside him.

Now, I can sleep beside him, like husband and wife.