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