Imagine traffic offenders serving as school traffic wardens. And those found guilty of animal abuse being sent to work at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

This twist of irony, in perhaps a bid to reform offenders by offering them a view from the opposite end of the spectrum, may very well happen.

The Straits Times today reported that the authorities are considering such community service orders for adult offenders, according to Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs Ho Peng Kee yesterday.

Currently, community work as part of probation applies only to young offenders.

Associate Professor Ho said an inter-ministry committee on community-based sentences is looking at the issue, as part of its study on alternative sentencing options.

He was replying to a question in Parliament from an MP who had called for the laws to be reviewed so that the one-year-old Community Court can better deal with young offenders.

Other measures under study :

Mandatory treatment order

This empowers the courts to require offenders to undergo a stipulated course of treatment.

"It will be most appropriate for offenders who are not sentenced to imprisonment, but will benefit from undergoing medical, psychological or psychiatric treatment, or treatment for problems such as alcoholism or uncontrollable anger," said Prof Ho.

The committee is also considering if the court can be more flexible in granting a conditional discharge to offenders who want to pursue studies or vocational training.

Short-term detention

This applies to offenders who are suitable for probation but would benefit from an initial period of detention.

People who breach probation orders could also be sentenced to detention.

SPCA executive officer Deirdre Moss told The Straits Times it prefers a custodial sentence for adults who abuse animals. It puts animals at risk to have the offenders do community service at the SPCA, she said.

"You'd have to monitor them every minute and we don't know what would trigger a repeat action. An animal may jump on them in play, but it could trigger an abusive act," she explained.