CELL CONDITIONS 

1. You will be isolated from the rest of the prison population for one week upon entry. You will serve your isolation alone or with the inmates who came in at the same time as you. There is no yard time or day room during the isolation period.

2. During Covid-19 isolation, each cell will have 7 books. You can request for more books when you have finished reading but it has to be one for one exchange. You will not be allowed to read the books you brought in during the 7 day Covid isolation period. You will also have access to an e tablet (see below)

4. You will share a cell with a few other inmates. How many inmates you share it with will depend on the size of the cell. Most cells will house a minimum of 3 and multiple-occupancy cells can house a maximum of 8 people. The cell has a window but it has grills and is covered by a metal sheet with small holes. There is a small window on the cell door but you cannot see outside unless the guard opens it. The size of a small cell housing 3 people is approximately 2.3m by 2.3m in size (excluding small toilet area)

5. Inmates convicted of crime involving violence may be housed alone throughout their sentence. However, they will have day room and yard time with other inmates (see below)

6. There are no beds or mattresses. You have to sleep on the cement floor and you will be issued with a straw mat. It may be difficult to get used to sleeping on a hard floor during the first few nights. Many inmates use the extra sets of clothes and the blankets given to them to cushion their backs and backsides so it is more comfortable and to avoid muscle aches. 

7. The toilet is in the cell with a 'modesty wall' of approximately 1.4m in height to separate it from the rest of the cell. The toilet is metal squat type. Your shower area is also where the toilet bowl is. There is no hot water and inmates drink tap water.

8. There are no fans in the cell. The only form of ventilation comes from a ventilator above the door of the cell. As such, most male inmates will be shirtless while in the cell. For men, you will not be given any underwear. The only time you need to wear a t-shirt is during the ‘muster check’ which happens three times a day. Female prisoners will be issued undergarments. 

9. Every cell has a CCTV camera installed inside which can record sound as well. The cameras will capture your every movement, including when you use the toilet. 

10. There are also no clocks and no way to tell time. You only know the time of the day when meals are served and when lights in the cell are switched on and off. However, prison is now issuing Samsung e tablet and you can find out the time of the day with this tablet.

11. Every cell has a 24 hour intercom for you to communicate with the prison officer.

12. Activities allowed in the cell are reading and playing games like chess. You can also clean and wash your cell. When in doubt about what you can do in the cell, ask the prison officer. Physical exercise is not allowed but some Housing Units may allow it, depending on the prison officers in charge. 

13. You are not allowed any personal possessions. Exceptions may be made for family photos. You are allowed to read the books you have brought in or which your family has given to prison authorities to pass to you, but these books will be screened and will usually take between 7 to 14 working days before you can read them. Only soft cover books are allowed.

14. Meals will be served to you through a small opening at the bottom of the door. Breakfast is usually bread with butter, jam, chocolate spread and coffee with sugar and milk. Lunch is usually Chinese vegetarian food with the occasional sausage, and hard boiled egg, or rice with fishcake and vegetables. Dinner is usually rice with either chicken, or fish fillet, with a mildly spicy sauce. 

15. You get one piece of fruit for lunch and dinner. It's usually apples, oranges or bananas.

16. On occasion when the kitchen is closed on Saturday or Sunday, outside food is catered. You may also be given teh-o as an additional refreshment on Saturdays.

17. If you have special dietary requirements (eg diabetes), it will be catered for you. 

18. If you have any food allergies or underlying medical conditions (eg high blood pressure), you should declare them to the doctor in the prison. There are in-house nurse who will administer medicines for you. You can also report sick. The doctor is only available during office hours on weekdays. On weekends, only a duty nurse is on stand by.

19. For cases where sustained medical attention is needed, the inmate will be transferred to the medical facility within the prison. More serious cases are transferred to Changi General Hospital.

0555: lights on

0715: opening muster check (you are required to stand up, tuck in your t shirt, and greet the officer, though most people don't bother to greet. Just a simple nodding of the head in acknowledgement will do)

0745 to 0800: breakfast

0925: lights off (there will be some natural light coming in from the window, but it is quite dim cos of the metal sheet covering the window)

1125: Lights on

1145 to 12pm: Lunch

12pm: Mid day muster check

1425: Lights off

1645: Lights on

1700: Dinner

1800: closing muster check

2055: Lights off, go to bed

Checks will be made in the middle of the night when you are sleeping. The prison officer patrolling will switch on and off the light in your cell.