Conference Reports & Statistics

Topics Discussed At APCCA

The list of topics outlines the themes and agenda items discussed at the annual APCCA conferences.

 

43rd APCCA (2025), Seoul (South Korea)

Agenda Items

  • Challenges and Initiatives in Corrections
  • Resources, funding and effectiveness
  • International collaboration in corrections: Initiatives, challenges and benefits
  • Addressing the needs of vulnerable people in custody
  • How to prevent reoffending by people with addictions to drugs, alcohol or gambling
  • Special Presentations By Observers

42nd APCCA (2024), Hong Kong (China)

Agenda Items

  • Challenges and Initiatives in Corrections
  • Training, fostering and developing staff: Ensuring a professional, accountable and supportive culture
  • Technology as an aid to reducing prison violence, and to managing and rehabilitating offenders in prison and the community
  • Working with families and communities to improve rehabilitation and reintegration
  • How to design, construct and operate prisons in a more environmentally friendly way
  • Special Presentations By Observers

41st APCCA (2023), Vietnam (Hanoi)

Agenda Items

  • Challenges and Initiatives in Corrections
  • Managing offenders with unique needs such as mental health problems, behavioural disorders, physical disabilities or drug problems: providing a safe and secure environment and delivering effective treatment
  • Reducing recidivism through reintegration programs in prison and the community
  • Engaging with the private sector and with not-for-profit organisations to provide vocational training and other rehabilitation programs
  • Developing future-ready correctional systems: improving infrastructure, technologies and training in custody and community corrections

40th APCCA (2022), Singapore (Virtual)

Agenda Items

  • Forging New Frontiers in Corrections - Technology, Partnerships and Advocacy
  • Challenges and Initiatives in Corrections
  • Managing Prison Emergencies (COVID-19 Pandemic, natural disasters, disorder, escapes, suicide etc): Preparedness, Response, Recovery
  • Providing Effective Programs for Staff Support and Career Development
  • Managing the Release of Prisoners and Engaging the Community in Reintegration
  • Best Practices in Meeting the Needs of Inmates
  • Special Presentations by UNAFEI and Yellow Ribbon Singapore

APCCA Business Report 2021

The conference was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, please refer to Past Conferences.

APCCA Business Report 2020

The conference was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, please refer to Past Conferences.

39th APCCA (2019), Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar)

Agenda Items

  • Challenges and Initiatives in Corrections
  • Using Modern Technologies to Improve Prison Operations, Offender Rehabilitation, and the Supervision of Offenders in the Community
  • Managing and Rehabilitating Offenders Who Have Substance Abuse or Mental Health Problems
  • Non-Custodial Sentences and Parole: What Are the Challenges and What Works
  • Managing and Rehabilitating Juveniles and Young Adult Offenders

38th APCCA (2018), Malaysia (Melaka)

Agenda Items

  • Challenges and Initiatives in Corrections
  • Best Practices in the Management, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration of Offenders Who Have Links to Extremism, Terrorism, Organised Crime, and Gangs
  • Preventing, Detecting, and Treating Drug and Alcohol Abuse by Offenders
  • Training, Developing, and Motivating Correctional Staff
  • Developing Risk and Needs Assessment Tools to Improve the Classification, Management, and Rehabilitation of Offenders

37th APCCA (2017), Fiji (Nadi)

Agenda Items

  • Challenges and Initiatives in Corrections
  • Embracing Technology in Rehabilitation, Prisoner Management, and Prison Design: Striking the Right Balance Between Technology and People
  • Initiatives in Community-Based Sentences and Post-Release Reintegration: What Is Working Well, and How to Engage With Family and Community
  • How to Achieve Efficiencies, Cost Savings, and Better Outcomes in Corrections or in Prison Industries/Enterprises (Including Engagement With NGOs and Private Enterprise)
  • Best Practice in Caring for Old-Aged Offenders, Offenders With Dementia, and Offenders With Psychiatric Conditions

36th APCCA (2016), China (Tianjin)

Agenda Items

  • Challenges and Initiatives in Corrections
  • Designing Prisons and Community-Based Facilities That Meet the Safety, Security, and Rehabilitation Needs of Different Groups of Offenders
  • Providing Effective Infection Control and Healthcare Services in Prison
  • Developing Effective Corrections in the Community as Well as in Prison
  • Initiatives in Offender Education and Rehabilitation in Prison and the Community (With Special Reference to Programs That Prepare Prisoners for Release, Programs for Sex Offenders and Drug Offenders, and "De-Radicalisation" Programs to Combat Terrorism)

35th APCCA (2015), Thailand (Bangkok)

Agenda Items

  • Challenges and Initiatives in Corrections
  • Female Offenders in Prison and in the Community (Including the Bangkok Rules)
  • Technology as a Tool for Delivering Safe, Effective, and Efficient Correctional Services
  • Managing Offenders With Special Needs Who Pose Specific Challenges
  • Opportunities for Regional and International Collaboration and Learning

34th APCCA (2014), Canada (Victoria, Vancouver Island)

Agenda Items

  • National Reports on Challenges and Initiatives in Corrections
  • Looking to the Future: How Can Correctional Services Departments Achieve Efficiencies and Public Safety Outcomes by 2020
  • Training, Motivating and Developing Staff for their Changing Roles
  • Taking Account of Age: Meeting the Challenges Posed by: (i) Young Offenders; or (ii) Offenders Who Are Aged or Infirm
  • Managing the Release of Prisoners and Engaging the Community: Options such as Pre-release Centres, Open Prisons, Home Detention and Aftercare

33rd APCCA (2013), India (New Dehli)

Agenda Items

  • Challenges and Initiatives in Corrections
  • Sharing and Adaptability of Best Practices in Correctional Administration including Executive level Training and Succession Planning
  • Promoting staff-offender interaction in prison and in the community whilst ensuring staff safety
  • Challenges and Opportunities in the Management and Reintegration of Prisoners serving long sentences
  • Women in corrections as Offenders, Officers & Other Staff

32nd APCCA (2012), Brunei Darussalam (Bandar Seri Begawan)

Agenda Items

  • Challenges and Initiatives in Corrections
  • Sharing and Adaptability of Best Practices in Correctional Administration including Executive level Training and Succession Planning
  • Promoting Staff-Offender Interaction In prison and In the Community Whilst Ensuring Staff Safety
  • Challenges and Opportunities in the Management and Reintegration of Prisoners serving long sentences
  • Women in corrections as Offenders, Officers & Other Staff

31st APCCA (2011), Japan (Tokyo)

Agenda Items

  • Challenges and Initiatives in Corrections
  • Contemporary Issues in Correctional Facility Construction
  • International Collaboration: International Prisoner Transfers, Training and Executive Development, and Sharing Best Practices
  • Partnerships with Private Sector: Challenges and Opportunities
  • Recruiting Custodial Staff with the Desired Skills and Attributes
  • Engaging and Communicating with the Community
  • Responding to Changing Offender Profiles

30th APCCA (2010), Canada (Vancouver)

Agenda Items

  • National Report of Contemporary Issues in Corrections
  • Assessing the performance of corrections (through internal and external mechanisms)
  • Staff wellbeing and professional development
  • Managing prisoners with mental health issues and reducing risks of suicide and self-harm
  • What works in community corrections?
  • Assessment and classification to facilitate safe custody and rehabilitation in prison and the community (with special reference to high risk offenders)

29th APCCA (2009), Australia (Perth, Western Australia)

Agenda Items

  • National Report on Contemporary Issues in Corrections
  • Providing efficient and effective health services for prisoners, including harm reduction strategies
  • Prisoner employment as a mechanism to promote good order in prisons and reduce recidivism
  • Developing and implementing parole systems and community based sentences

Specialist Workshops

  • Engaging with other criminal justice system agencies (including police, judges and policy makers) to achieve consistency of goals
  • Fairness and efficiency in handling prisoner complaints
  • Success stories in corrections, with special reference to technology, staff welfare and community engagement

28th APCCA (2008), Malaysia (Langkawi)

Agenda Items

  • National Report on Contemporary Issues in Corrections
  • Balancing effective prison management with the increased scrutiny of corrections by external bodies
  • Best practices in rehabilitation for women and other special groups of prisoners
  • Engaging families and communities in the rehabilitative process (including restorative justice approached)

Specialist Workshops

  • Developing correctional standards that reflect international & regional best practice and measuring performance
  • Designing prisons to promote effective rehabilitation and environmental sustainability
  • Building capacity through the recruitment, management and retention of talent and through succession planning

27th APCCA (2007), Vietnam (Ha Noi)

Agenda Items

  • National Report on Contemporary Issues in Corrections
  • Managing Special Group of Offenders
  • Staff Recruitment and Training
  • Overcoming Barriers to Successful Reintegration

Specialist Workshops

  • Rebuilding Correctional Capacity Following Natural Disasters and Conflict
  • Effective Community Supervision and Monitoring
  • Managing Youthful Offenders

26th APCCA (2006), New Zealand (Auckland)

Agenda Items

  • National Report on Contemporary Issues in Corrections
  • Maintenance of Institutional Order
  • The Wellbeing of Correctional Staff
  • Improving the Reintegration of Offenders into the Community

Specialist Workshops

  • Effective Drug / Substance Abuse Treatment
  • Dealing with Prisoners with Medical / Mental Health Problems
  • Alternatives to Custody

25th APCCA (2005), Republic of Korea (Seoul)

Agenda Items

  • National Report on Contemporary Issues in Corrections
  • The Promotion of International Cooperation in Correctional Field
  • The Management of High Profile and Dangerous Prisoner
  • “Doing More with Less”: Improving Prison Services at Times of Overcrowding and Financial Constraint

Specialist Workshops

  • Measuring the Success of Prisoners’ Treatment Program
  • Preparing and Helping Inmates to Adapt to Society upon Release
  • Staff Training and Development

24th APCCA (2004), Singapore

Agenda Items

  • National Report on Contemporary Issues in Corrections
  • Roles of Community/Public Sector Agencies & Families in Successful Reintegration
  • Preventing and Containing Infectious Diseases
  • Managing Public Expectations in the Treatment of Offenders
  • Practices in Dealing with the Diverse Cultural & Spiritual Needs of Inmates

Specialist Workshops

  • Resolving Ethical Conflicts Amongst Prison Officers
  • Innovation within the Correctional Settings
  • Communication and Public Relations – Ways to Gain the Support of Media, Politicians and the Public

23rd APCCA (2003), Hong Kong (China)

Agenda Items

  • National Report on Contemporary Issues in Corrections
  • Dealing with Prisoners’ Complaints and Grievances
  • Promoting Desirable Prison Officer Culture and Behaviour
  • Major Prison Disturbances : Causes and Responses

Specialist Workshops

  • Prison Industry Partnership
  • Training and Succession Planning for Senior Correctional Managers

22nd APCCA (2002), Indonesia (Denpasar, Bali)

Agenda Items

  • National Report on Contemporary Issues in Corrections
  • Outsourcing of Correctional Services
  • Recruitment, Training and Career Development of Correctional Staff
  • The Reception and Classification of Prisoners as the Key to Rehabilitation

Specialist Workshops

  • Correctional Standards, Service Quality, Benchmarking and Risk of Reoffending
  • Community Participation and Engagement in Corrections

21st APCCA (2001), Thailand (Chiang Mai)

Agenda Items

  • National Report on Contemporary Issues in Corrections
  • Foreign Prisoners and International Transfer
  • Drug Offenders – Psychological and Other Treatment
  • The Management of Special Groups of Offenders

Specialist Workshops

  • Correctional Throughcare
  • Indigenous Offenders
  • Restoration Justice

20th APCCA (2000), Australia (Sydney)

Agenda Items

  • National Report on Contemporary Issues in Corrections
  • Women Prisoners
  • Community Involvement in Corrections

19th APCCA (1999), China (Shanghai)

Agenda Items

  • National Report on Contemporary Issues in Corrections
  • The Corrections or Re-education of Young Offenders
  • Corrections in the New Millennium: Challenges and Responses
  • Defining and Clarifying the Role and Functions in Prisons with a view to: Reducing Recidivism; Reducing the Negative Impact of Prison on the Families of Convicted and Unconvicted Criminals; and Enhancing the Use of Community Corrections

18th APCCA (1998), Canada (Vancouver)

Agenda Items

  • National Report on Contemporary Issues in Corrections
  • Best Practices in the Treatment of Offenders
  • Creating and Sustaining the Interest of the Community and Government in Corrections
  • The Application of Technology to Prison Design and Management

17th APCCA (1997), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)

Agenda Items

  • National Report on Contemporary Issues
  • Vocational Training and the Work of Prisoners
  • Private Sector Involvement in Corrections
  • Prison Staff: Recruitment, Training and Career Development

16th APCCA (1996), New Zealand (Christchurch)

Agenda Items

  • Community Involvement in Corrections
  • Provision of Food and Health Services in Prisons
  • Special Issues Relating to the Management of Female Offenders
  • International Co-operation at the Global, Regional and Sub-Regional Levels

15th APCCA (1995), Japan (Tokyo and Osaka)

Agenda Items

  • Prison Health Issues
  • Contemporary Issues in Correctional Management
  • Classification and Treatment of Offenders
  • Impact of External Agencies on Correctional Management

14th APCCA (1994), Australia (Darwin)

Agenda Items

  • Management of Intractable and Protection Prisoners
  • The Application of Technology and Information Systems in Corrections
  • Care and Control of Minority Groups in Prison
  • Staffing and Management Systems in Corrections

13th APCCA (1993), Hong Kong (China)

Agenda Items

  • Rights and Treatment of Unconvicted Prisoners
  • The Effective Treatment of Different Types of Offenders
  • Public Awareness and Support for Corrections
  • International Co-operation in Corrections

12th APCCA (1992), Australia (Adelaide)

Agenda Items

  • Prison Health Issue
  • New Developments in Community Corrections
  • Private Industry and Prison Management
  • International Co-operation in Corrections

11th APCCA (1991), China (Beijing)

Agenda Items

  • Correctional Statistics, Research and Development
  • Prison Education, Training and Work
  • Discipline and Grievance Procedures
  • Prison and the Community

10th APCCA (1989), India (New Delhi)

Agenda Items

  • Current Penal Philosophy
  • Current Alternatives to Prison
  • Changing Work Role of Prison Staff
  • Current Crisis Management Techniques

9th APCCA (1988), Australia (Sydney and Melbourne)

Agenda Items

  • Trends and Patterns in Penal Populations: Size, Composition, Type and Characters
  • Inter-agency Cooperation Within the Criminal Justice System, namely between Corrections and Other Agencies
  • Safeguarding Human Rights within the Penal System
  • The Media, its Power and Influence upon Corrections System

8th APCCA (1987), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)

Agenda Items

  • Counter Measure to Overcrowding in Prisons
  • Work Release and Associated Matters
  • Effective Links between Prison Industry and the Private Sector
  • Impact on Prison Management of External Monitoring
  • Regional Co-operation for Training of Prison Officers

7th APCCA (1986), Republic of Korea (Seoul)

Agenda Items

  • Remandees: Management, Accommodation and Facilities
  • Draft Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners
  • Educational Opportunities in Prison with Particular Reference to Primary and Reintegrative Education
  • International Transfer of Prisoners within the Asian and Pacific Region
  • Providing Employment for Inmates

6th APCCA (1985), Fiji (Suva)

Agenda Items

  • Investigations of Incidents in Prisons
  • Facilities and Programmes for Female Prisoners Including Those Inmates with Children
  • Extent and Use of Minimum Force in Prison
  • Recruitment and Development Training
  • Changing Responsibilities of Correctional Administrators

5th APCCA (1984), Tonga

Agenda Items

  • The Use of Technology in Prisons
  • The Role of Volunteers in Prisons in Relation to Programmes for Inmates
  • Problems for the Physically and Mentally Handicapped in Prison
  • Mechanisms Used by Various Jurisdictions to Monitor Crime and Incident Rates in Prison

4th APCCA (1983), New Zealand (Wellington)

Agenda Items

  • Developing Public Awareness in Corrections
  • Novel and New Problems and Programmes in the Regions
  • Young Offenders in Corrections
  • The Problem of Drug Offenders in Prison
  • Prison Health Services
  • Prison Industries

3rd APCCA (1982), Japan (Tokyo)

Agenda Items

  • Staff Development
  • Release under Supervision
  • Vocational Training
  • Classification and Categorization of Prisoners

2nd APCCA (1981), Thailand (Bangkok)

Agenda Items

  • Prison Industry
  • Remands
  • The Status of Prison Officers and Human Rights
  • Prisoners Exchange Arrangements in Asia and the Pacific
  • The Problem of Drug Offenders in the Prisons of Asia and the Pacific

1st APCCA (1980), Hong Kong (China)

Agenda Items

  • Trends and Problems
  • Alternatives to Imprisonment and Effects of Prison Management
  • Management Services
  • Sixth UN Congress – Implications for Asia Pacific