IACFP is proud to sponsor Distinguished Scholar, Dr Chi Meng Chu at the International Corrections and Prisons Association’s (ICPA) first International Research in Corrections Conference (IRCC), taking place in Auckland, New Zealand from March 2–5, 2026. His presentation at IRCC will focus on rehabilitation strategies across Asia, with an emphasis on sharing non-Western approaches to addressing criminal justice involvement. Dr Chu sat down with me to discuss his experiences in correctional and forensic psychology, how he arrived where he is today, and the guidance he has for future leaders in the field.
Career Path and Professional Growth
Dr Chu is currently the Group Director of the Strategy and Research Group and Senior Principal Clinical and Forensic Psychologist at the National Council of Social Service in Singapore. He began his career with an interest in child psychology. After moving from Singapore to Australia for graduate training, he was assigned a placement at a youth correctional institution, an experience that sparked his shift into forensic psychology. At the time, forensic and correctional psychology were not recognized specialties, and training in this area was typically acquired alongside other fields. Dr Chu credits strong mentorship during this period as critical to his professional development.
Now back in Singapore, Dr Chu researches dynamic risk assessment strategies and plays a key role in developing forensic mental health programs for youth and adult probationers, shaping services at a national level.
Challenges, Ethics, and Professional Development
Dr Chu identified ethical dilemmas as one of the most challenging aspects of his work. He emphasized the importance of leadership support in creating safe environments where concerns about professional boundaries or staff behavior can be raised early. He noted the significant impact these issues can have on clients, colleagues, and systems.
He offered the following guidance:
- Remember the costs of some decisions
- Remember your purpose and the people you serve
- Don’t be afraid to speak up or seek support
Dr Chu also highlighted the challenges of collaboration within multidisciplinary teams. Differences in perspectives and goals can strain working relationships, making early and transparent discussions about roles and expectations essential.
Bridging Research and Practice
Dr Chu reflected on the difficulty of integrating research into practice early in his career due to limited time and resources. Despite these challenges, his first research paper on self‑harm patterns in a female youth correctional institution gained leadership support and eventually led to the creation and development of a Translational Research Team.
What began as a two‑person initiative has grown into a team of nearly 40 researchers working with national datasets across Singapore’s correctional and community systems. With leadership backing, Dr Chu has secured multiple grants to support longitudinal research and applied practice development.
Sustaining Engagement in the Field
Dr Chu encourages collaboration, mentorship, and continued learning throughout one’s career. He advises professionals to connect with others, attend conferences, and share goals openly.
For students, he recommends gaining direct experience and understanding the demands of the field. For early‑career professionals, perseverance, collaboration, and mentoring others are key. For everyone, he emphasized the importance of rest, self‑care, and maintaining interests outside of work to prevent burnout and sustain long‑term engagement.
Dr Chu finds renewed motivation through conversations with new people and exposure to new ideas, viewing these exchanges as essential to building a more effective and humane correctional system.
