transforming prisons into correctional centres - places of new beginnings april 2005 select...

Transforming prisons into correctional centres - places of new beginnings April 2005

Select Committee on Security & Constitutional Affairs

The DCSThe Department of Correctional ServicesREPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Assistance offered to community corrections centres where prisoners have been released and are ready to be re-integrated to society

The DCSThe Department of Correctional ServicesREPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Assistance offered to Community Assistance offered to Community Corrections CentresCorrections Centres

WHITE PAPER ON CORRECTIONS

The White Paper on Corrections makes provision for:

the preparation of offenders for their social

acceptance and reintegration into their communities.

commencing upon admission to completion of sentence

rebuilding the relationships between offenders and their communities.


Definition of reintegration

Reintegration refers to the ongoing process, in which offenders are prepared for their ultimate release and assisted to readjust to community life. The successful reintegration of offenders into the community is considered to be the ultimate aim of their detention and development in correctional centre. Consequently, the Department of Correctional Services gives priority to actions aimed achieving this objective.


OBJECTIVES OF REINTEGRATION

The objectives of reintegration are to:

Enable offenders to lead a socially responsible and crime-free life while serving their sentences in the community. Community corrections exercises supervision and control over offenders.

Involve society in community-based correctional matters by encouraging them to provide employment and accommodation to needy offenders.

Ensure that offenders are successfully reintegrated into society into the community.

Offer financial and material assistance to offenders upon their release and placement

Provide job opportunities and obtain the co-operation of employers with regard to the released offenders.


REINTEGRATION POLICY

The Department fully recognizes that direct and sudden release to the community after close confinement can have an adverse effect on offenders’ ability to reintegrate successfully , it thus, attempts ,as far as possible , to equip offenders with those skills required for their effective reintegration into the community .


THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2005/6-2009/10

The strategic plan makes provision for: different forms of material assistance development of needs based programmes


Establishing of curriculum vitae for offenders prior to placement.

Obtain information from the Department’s personnel who are assisting in them to find

employment.


MATERIAL ASSISTANCE TO RELEASED OFFENDERS

Section 43 of the Correctional Services Act, 1998(Act 111 of 1998) makes provision sentenced offenders to receive various forms of material assistance upon release.

medicine, clothing , trade tools, transport to their destination advances that should accommodate direct needs

immediately after release.


Transfer

Section 43(1) of Correctional Services Act , 1998(Act 111 of 1998) makes provision for offenders to be transferred timeously to a correctional centre nearest to their place of resettlement .


Section 45(1) of the Correctional Services Act, 1998(Act 111 of 1998) makes provision for offenders with sentences of more than six months to be prepared for release. This section makes it possible for offenders to participate in standard pre-release programme, which includes, among other things,

Standard Pre-release Programme

assistance with obtaining and maintaining employment, guidance on adjustment/adaptation problems, and information on the terms of parole.


PREPARATION FO RELEASE AND REINTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY

Commences six weeks prior to the offenders’ placement on parole.

Accommodation Employment Pre-release programme


PRE-RLEASE INTERVIEW WITH OFFENDERSPRE-RLEASE INTERVIEW WITH OFFENDERS

The purpose of pre-release The purpose of pre-release

employment employment accommodationaccommodation


EXTERNAL JOB INTERVIEW WITH PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS

If the employer requires a personal interview with offender before considering him/her for employment, it is the responsibility of community reintegration official to make arrangements.


ACCOMMODATION ARRANGEMENTS

Provision of accommodation - family, friends, and even employers.


Programmes presentented in conjunction with:

Social Workers NGO’s, FBO’s CBO’s


COMMUNITY’S INVOLVEMENT IN REINTEGRATING RELEASED OFFENDERS

providing accommodation ; meeting and providing direct material needs such

as clothing; including the released offenders in social activities,

such sport; and assisting in monitoring the offender’s progress

after release.


CHALLEGES FACING COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

Marketing of Correctional Supervision

Implementation of Section 62(f) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977

Lack of sufficient and suitable vehicles

Lack of sufficient and suitable vehicles

Inaccessibility of Community Corrections Offices

the dcs The Department of Correctional Services REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Correctional Services values your role in breaking the cycle of crime - in making rehabilitation work

Thank you

Together we can strengthen a social compact against crime, for a better life

transforming prisons into correctional centres - places of new beginnings april 2005 select...

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