1 Building a caring correctional system that truly belongs to all BRANCHES : DEVELOPMENT/CARE & CORRECTIONS BRIEFING TO THE JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE

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Building a caring correctional system that truly belongs to all BRANCHES : DEVELOPMENT/CARE & CORRECTIONS

BRIEFING TO THE JOINTMONITORING COMMITTEE ON IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND

STATUS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND DISABLED PERSON

Department Correctional ServicesREPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

OCTOBER 2005

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1. PURPOSE

To present to the Joint Monitoring Committee on the improvement of quality of life and status of children , youth and disabled person on allocation of funds for children, youth and disabled persons.

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2. LEGAL MANDATE

Constitution of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996) Section 35 (e) makes provision for incarceration under conditions consistent

with human dignity.

White Paper on Corrections (2005) The White Paper outlines the new strategic direction of the Department with

rehabilitation at the centre of all its activities and one in which the Department strives to make a fundamental contribution to corrections at societal level.

Chapter 11 of the White Paper addresses needs of special categories of offenders.

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2. LEGAL MANDATE

Correctional Services Act (Act No 111 of 1998)

The purpose of correctional system is to contribute to maintaining & protecting just, peaceful & safe society by —

(a) enforcing sentences of courts in manner prescribed by this Act; (b) detaining all prisoners in safe custody whilst ensuring their human

dignity; & (c) promoting social responsibility & human development of all prisoners &

persons subject to community corrections

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2. LEGAL MANDATE Cont.

The legal mandate finds expression in the two broad strategic pillars.

Promotion of Correction As Societal Responsibility(2)

DCS as an Institution of Rehabilitation

(1)

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3. BACKGROUNDThe Department of Correctional Services (DCS) does not have a disaggregated budget, but the available budget is allocated in accordance with the following programmes to cover the administrative, correctional, development and care programmes of all categories of offenders which includes children, youth and offenders with disabilities:

Programmes Revised Allocation

2005/06

R’000

Administration 2 518 653

Security 3 285 135

Corrections 626 325

Care 939 368

Development 414 130

Social Re-integration 313 335

Facilities 1 793 634

Internal Charges -567 495

TOTAL 9 323 085

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4. STATISTICS There is currently within DCS three categories of children i.e. children under 18 years,

youth and young children (Babies) who are with their incarcerated mothers. The offenders with disabilities are also incarcerated within DCS.

The statistical data available on the above mentioned as at 30 September 2005 is as follows:

Children under 18 years Total of sentenced Children 1 085 Total of unsentenced Children 1 242

Youth Total of sentenced youth 35 127 Total of unsentenced youth 22 436

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4. STATISTICS Cont.

Offenders with Disabilities Total offenders with disabilities 186

Young children (Babies) with their incarcerated mothers Total young children with their incarcerated mothers 159

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Funds allocated for Children (younger than 18 years) 2005/2006 Financial Year

Number (Average for 2005)

Per capita cost per day (R123.37)

‘000

Total cost per annum

‘000

Unsentenced 1227 151 55 251

Sentenced 1087 134 48 947

Total in Custody 2314 285 104 199

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Funds allocated for Youths (younger than 25 years) 2005/2006 Financial Year



‘000


‘000

Unsentenced 26160 3 227 1 177 986

Sentenced 41612 5 133 1 873 790

Total in Custody 67772 8 361 3 051 776

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Funds allocated for Disabled People 2005/2006 Financial Year



‘000


‘000

Total in Custody 240 29 10 807

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5. POLICIES

The following Policies for special categories of offenders were developed and aligned with the White Paper on Corrections in South Africa (2005).

Draft Youth Policy This Policy seeks to create opportunities for all the youth incarcerated, to develop

themselves in order to improve the quality of their lives and to prepare them for reintegration into the community.

Draft Policy For Offenders with Disabilities This Policy seeks to promote equal and humane treatment through establishing a

conducive environment where offenders with disabilities will maintain / regain optimum level of Physical, mental and emotional well being.

The Draft Infants and Mothers Policy has also been developed

The purpose of the Infants and Mothers Policy is to provide sound, physical, social and mental care and development for the duration of the infant’s stay in Mother and Child Units for their healthy development.

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6. ACCOMODATIONThirteen (13) Youth Correctional Centres have been established in the following Regions.

WESTERN CAPE: Brandvlei Hawequa Drakenstein Medium B Pollsmoor Medium A

GAUTENG: Leeuwkop Medium B Emthonjeni Boksburg

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6. ACCOMODATION Cont.

LIMPOPO / MPUMALANGA / NORTH WEST: Barberton Town Rustenburg

FREE STATE / NORTHERN CAPE: Groenpunt Kroonstad

KWAZULU / NATAL: Durban Ekuseni

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MOTHER AND CHILD UNITSMothers with their young children are kept in a separate mother and child unit where the surroundings and facilities are conducive to sound physical, social and mental care and development. Mother and Child Units have been established in the following Regions:

GAUTENG: Johannesburg Pretoria Heidelberg

WESTERN CAPE: Pollsmoor Worcester

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FREE STATE: Kroonstad

EASTERN CAPE: East London Port Elizabeth

LIMPOPO/ MPUMALANGA/ NORTHWEST: Thohoyandou Nelspruit Bethal Potchefstroom

KWAZULU / NATAL: Durban

Offenders with disabilities are not separated from other offenders in Correctional Centres.

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7. PERSONNEL

DCS establishment makes provision for correctional officials who specialize in the following service delivery areas:

Security needs Care needs Development needs Social Integration needs Correction needs

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8. INTERVENTIONS AND PROGRAMMES

Interventions and Programmes for the development, care, correction of offending behaviour and social reintegration are offered to all offenders including children, youth and offenders with disabilities.

8.1. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

Formal Education In order to impact positively on the high level of illiteracy as well as the lack of vocational and occupational skills in society, all offenders have access to:

General Education and Training (GET) Further Education and Training (FET) and ABET levels 1 - 4

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8. INTERVENTIONS AND PROGRAMMES Cont.

Skills DevelopmentOffenders are offered the opportunity for development of social and employment related skills through:

Vocational training Occupational training Entrepreneurial training

Sport, Recreation, Arts and CultureThe following activities are rendered to enhance offenders rehabilitation, and they are included in the structured day programme.

Arts activities (Painting and Drawing) Cultural activities (Choral music and traditional dancing) Sports activities - Coaching clinics in (Soccer, rugby and volleyball etc) Recreation activities (Board games and touch rugby)

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Production Workshops and Agriculture Training and productive work opportunities are provided to offenders in the

field of agriculture and production workshops for development of work ethics, employability and the enhancement of self sufficiency.

8.2. CARE PROGRAMMES

Social Work Services Services are offered to all offenders in order to enhance their social

functioning, adaptation and re-integration into the society through: Individual interviews, Group work sessions Presentations of Programmes (Life Skills, Substance Abuse and Anger

Management etc.) Community work services

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Psychological Services Focus is on maintenance and development of mental health through: Individual, family and group therapy Management of emotional disturbance and suicide risks Dealing with court referrals

Health Care ServicesComprehensive health care services are offered to all offenders with regard to:

Preventive and promotion of Health Care Services Curative services Rehabilitative health care

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Spiritual Care Services Rendering of Spiritual Care Service through provision of: Individual interviews Church/religious services Group sessions

HIV / AIDS Programmes Programmes are rendered to all offenders focusing on: Prevention Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) Peer education for youth Condom distribution STI Treatment, TB and Treatment for opportunist infections Awareness sessions Care and support services

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8.3. CORRECTIONS

Correctional programmes that target the offending behaviour are provided, they entail the following:

Aggressive offender programme Sexual offender programme

Children are also separated from adult offenders.

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9. PARTNERSHIP

There are additional programmes offered to young offenders in partnership with other stakeholders

SANCA in conjunction with DCS launched the Ahanang Prison Project in May 2003.

The proposed Ahanang Prison Project is offering HIV / AIDS Counseling Services and Substance Abuse information to incarcerated youth in order to change negative attitudes and behavior targeting awaiting trial and sentenced youth.

The Khulisa Rehabilitation / In-Prison Peer Drug Counseling Programme are offered at Johannesburg Youth Prison, Leeuwkop Youth Prison, Krugersdorp Youth Section, Boksburg Youth Section & Ekuseni Youth Centre.

Some of the services and programmes are offered in partnership with NGO’s, CBO’s and FBO’s within the communities.

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Thank you

Building a caring correctional system that

truly belongs to all

Department Correctional ServicesREPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Documents

1 Building a caring correctional system that truly belongs to all BRANCHES : DEVELOPMENT/CARE & CORRECTIONS BRIEFING TO THE JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE