Progress: Implementation of Correctional Supervision and Parole Board: Klerksdorp

1. Progress: Implementation of Correctional Supervision and Parole Board: Klerksdorp Building a caring correctional system that truly belongs to all Presentation to Port Folio Committee 5 September 2006

2. OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENTATION • PURPOSE • CORE FUNCTIONS • ORGANOGRAM OF THE BOARD • POPULATION COVERED • METHODOLOGY • PROGRESS • CASE LOAD • SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITY • PUBLIC PARTICIPATION • CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

3. PURPOSE TO GIVE PROGRESS WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CORRECTIONAL SUPERVISION AND PAROLE BOARDS IN THE KLERKSDORP MANAGEMENT AREA.

4. CORE FUNCTIONS • PLACEMENT OF OFFENDERS • RECOMMENDATIONS TO COURTS • RELEASE OF OFFENDERS ON EXPIRATION OF SENTENCES • AMENDMENT OR CANCELING OF PLACEMENT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES • SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITY

5. ORGANOGRAM OF THE BOARD • CHAIRPERSON • Ms Modisenyane (BA Degre (Hons) Social Work • VICE CHAIRPERSON • Vacant & Advertised • SECRETARY • The acting Secretary is Mr A Goodchild Correctional Officer Grade1, Matric (Incumbent transferred to position of Staff Support in Klerksdorp Centre) • CLERICAL STAFF • Ms S Mokhothu, Correctional Officer Grade II, Matric • Mr J Mtuze, Correctional Officer Grade I, Matric • COMMUNITY MEMBERS • Mr Leshomo, Matriculated, Community Development & Computer Certifigates, • Other Member Left in February 2006, post vacant submission to Regional office

6. POPULATION COVERED • The Klerksdorp Correctional Supervision and Parole Board is a roving board serving Klerksdorp Correctional Centre, Potchefstroom Correctional Centre, Wolmaransstad Satellite Unit and Christiana Satellite Unit. • Klerksdorp = 1148 inmates • Potchefstroom = 1278 inmates • Christiana = 143 inmates • Wolmaranstad = 114 inmates • The total population of sentenced offenders is 2500 in the Klerksdorp Management Area. Approved capacity for the Area is 2176.

7. METHODOLOGY • The Correctional Supervision and Parole Board compiles monthly planning to cover the areas served and circulated to various centres. • Agenda is circulated to the Units for the Unit Supervisor to inform the inmates timeously. • Quorum is formed by three members, Chairperson, Secretary and Community Member. • All offenders appear before the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board in person or with representation on the day of the sitting to ensure Audi Alterem Partem Rule. • Information that is relevant for the decisions are the following: (1) Profile Report of the offenders and its attachments: - Warrant SAP69 Nature and seriousness of the offence - SAP69(c) – Previous Records when they are attached, to determine the prognosis of the offender towards crime - SAP62 – Crime Description describe how the offence was committed and attitude of offender during arrest - Summary of sentence remark by the Magistrate but very few offenders have the remarks attached to profiles and hence decisions are made without them - Workplace Supervisor Report would give the offender s contribution during incarceration which is a basis for credit

8. METHODOLOGY (cont.) - Unit Manager’s report on the conduct of the offender in the unit be it positive or negative - Confirmation of support system and address which is monitorable is important - Confirmation of employment offer is not compulsory but is an added advantage - Successful completion of rehabilitation programmes is of high importance to ensure that offences are addressed - Educational studies completed are - Religious Care report - Medical report - Certificates of achievements • Role of the Case Management Committee (CMC) - Compiles the profile reports and gather information from various vocationalists before sending recommendation to the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board. • They determine the minimum detention period of the offenders. • They also submit recommendations in respect of special remission of sentences to the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board.

9. METHODOLOGY (cont.) • Role of the offender - The offender has to ensure that they appear personally as requested before the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board. - To make representation on his rehabilitation path and any other information that is not appearing on the profile report. He\she does not vote • Role of the victim Is to make an application to the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board in relation to representation they would wish the Board to be aware of, either in person, writing or through audio visual presentation. Three written submissions were received in 2006. Victim families are also allowed to make a representation.

10. OPERATIONS/PROGRESS • Case load as per month during 2005 and 2006:

11. OPERATIONS/PROGRESS cont. • Public involvement The families of the offenders and legal representatives make representations on behalf of offenders during the sittings as per their request. CSPB makes additional conditions on many other parolees on release to do community services to address the poverty alleviation projects within the communities (Adopt a school Projects) Parole Board Members participate in different Community structures such as Klerksdorp Community Policing Forums and Klerksdorp Rape Crisis Centre were the CSPB functions are marketed Public perceptions are still negative about early releases of inmates sometimes even family members. Some are very positive and surpotive • Societal responsibility • Klerksdorp CSPB embarked in the following marketing activities 1. The new CSPB and victim participation in the Parole Boards were marketed at Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom SAPS and the response is their involvement in the sittings of the board per request 2. Victim participation was marketed at the Potchefstroom court with the magistrates & control prosecutors and they were receptive of the information and understood their responsibility towards the victims. Application form were given to them for the victims to apply to sit on the board. More issues discussed were alternative sentencing options, concerns raised are that monitoring need to be intensified for magistrates to consider 3. Marketing on the CSPB and victim involvement in the Parole Boards were done at Taung Justice Cluster which includes traditional heads (Kgosi), recommendations made here was that offenders on Parole needs to be seen doing community services 4. Klerksdorp Legal Aid office also requested information on Parole Boards and marketing was done to them. 5. Marketing was done to the Klerksdorp Local municipality counsellors through the office of the Speaker and more invitations are expected from these counsellors in their localities. This is an ongoing process planned to take place on a monthly basis and needs to be intensified.

12. CHALLENGES • Lack of participation in the CSPB sittings, especially Justice department • Victim participation in the Parole Boards is still lacking. • Lack of vocationalist reports on the offenders due to shortages of staff. • Offender s lack of knowledge or understanding of Release Policy, e.g. credit system, minimum detention periods. • Structural problem of the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board sittings. • Manipulation of the system by some of the offenders

13. RECOMMENDATIONS • Comprehensive marketing strategy (including National Department) needs to be intensified to address the issue of the involvement of the relevant departments on the Parole Board. • Comprehensive marketing strategy within communities, courts and media, needs to be intensified to address the issue of victim participation. • Appointment of various vocationalists like teachers, social workers, psychologists and chaplains would address the problem of necessary reports. • The Case Management Committee needs to address the offenders on an ongoing basis concerning the Release Policy and various directives. • Head Office needs to look into the structural problems of the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board.

14. Thank you Building a caring correctional system that truly belongs to all