9 17 6 - Correctional Services

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Continued from page 3 reduce the age at which babies stayed with their incarcerated mothers from five to two years. This amendment followed intensive desk research by the Directorate Social Work Services in which they compared international models. Practical research was conducted by Nicro (2006) within DCS facilities attesting to the idea that keeping babies behind bars beyond two years of age has an adverse M A N A G E M E N T N E W S Medical experts research crime patterns By Molatelo Mokumo At a workshop attended by mental health experts and hosted by Deputy Minister, Ms Hlengiwe Mkhize to discuss the link between a person’s mental health status and the crime committed, the department was asked to develop a model for managing recidivism (repeat offending) and establish a strategy for managing the mentally ill in its centres. The workshop, held on 25 August at the national office was attended by revered giants in the fields of criminology, psychiatry and psychology. They included Prof Dan Mkize (Head of Clinical Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal), Prof Annie Hesselink (Specialist Counselor in Criminology, UNISA) and Prof Tholene Sodi (Clinical Psychologist, University of Venda). Within the context of recidivism and overcrowding in correctional centres, experts are seeking to discover the root causes of the situation. Prof Mkize said medical health experts in South Africa have never attempted to investigate whether there is a link between a person’s mental health status and the crime they committed. In view of this it was agreed that the department should decide on the approach to follow, particularly with regard to managing the mental health of the imprisoned. The experts learned about some of the challenges the department face in this regard: • undiagnosed cases of mental illness among incarcerated offenders • insufficient resources for rehabilitation impact on their development. In August 2009 there were a total of 168 babies within correctional centres. The regional breakdown was as follows: • • • • • • • • Gauteng – 87 LMN – 20 KwaZulu-Natal – 23 Free State/Northern Cape – 12 Western Cape – 19 Eastern Cape – 9 Regional Commissioner Jolingana explained her region’s initiatives that tie in programmes aimed at such inmates little collaboration for obtaining historical data about such offenders the concept of mental illness is not widely understood. Deputy Minister Mkhize said there were two major challenges in the department, namely overcrowding and recidivism. “Our facilities are almost 200% full. It is disturbing to see offenders being rearrested hardly six months after their release. It is further discouraging because they move from petty crimes to aggressive crimes.” Departmental statistics reveal that the age at which people commit serious and violent crimes are getting younger and younger. The Deputy Minister said patterns such as this have prompted her to arrange the workshop. “We want to, through the wisdom of experts, ascertain whether the mental health status of offenders have contributed towards them committing the type of crimes they are serving time for. We hope that through your knowledge in the field of health and criminology and related practices, we can get answers SA Corrections Today closely with the Imbeleko initiative . One such is to entice community members to adopt a baby for a weekend so that the babies can gradually become familiar with the outside world. The Branch Development and Care, in partnership with the Deputy Minister’s office embraces the Imbeleko initiative, which is to be spearheaded by the Directorate Social Work Services in all the regions in order to improve the lives of babies of incarcerated mothers. Experts who are on course to establish the link between a person’s mental health status and the crimes they commit that will help us deal better with offenders in our care,” she said. Elaborating further she explained, “We want to determine whether the law adequately guides us in the trial processes and incarceration of people with mental health challenges. We are in the process of reviewing the criminal justice system. Experts need to contribute to this significant change so that proper amendments could be made,” she said. Prof Dan Mkize set the pace with his presentation, saying that men and women with mental illnesses are more likely to be convicted of violent crimes. He added that drug abuse has contributed to the increase of crime. Prof Anni Hesselink also attempted to solve the puzzle with her presentation on determining the contributions of experts in the design, implementation and monitoring of effective rehabilitation programmes in correctional centres. Prof Tholene Sodi shared lessons learned from strategies to reduce recidivism by noting that cases that attract media attention often also attract the attention of psychologists, Prof Dan Mkize presenting the first objective of the workshop. psychiatrists and criminologists while low key cases, though equally serious and horrific in nature, escape this kind of attention. Many topics for research were raised by participants from the department. Some of them were: managing offenders who committed substance-induced crimes, screening offenders for psychological disorders and referrals to psychiatric hospitals.
Needless to say, the department has been searching for solutions to some of the most pressing issues and it seems that the time for relief has come in the form of technology. The Chief Directorate Remand Detention Systems and Security headed by Deputy Commissioner Willem Damons is on the verge of implementing a broadcast solution that will see remand detainees being put on trial from within correctional centres via a live satellite broadcast service. The system involves cameras and monitors in two locations: in a court room from where a magistrate or judge will preside and a substitute court room inside a correctional centre where the offender will be seated. The trial will be transmitted live between the two locations via satellite recording. Witnesses, family members of the accused, the public and an interpreter, where needed, will still be attending a trial at the court room from where they will follow proceedings. The Video Arraignment Solution, as it has been dubbed, was tested live on 28 August between Pretoria Correctional Centre and the Pretoria Magistrate Court. For the testing officials posed as remand M A N A G E M E N T N E W S Video solution for detainees awaiting trial By Molatelo Mokumo The effective management of detainees in correctional centres who are awaiting trial has been a headache for the department for a long while as it consumes a lot of resources in terms of staff, overcrowding and finances. detainees and the magistrates tried them for various offences live from the magistrate court. The project was initially piloted in 2005 and 2006 at St Albans Correctional Centre in the Eastern Cape. Given the recession and the belt tightening measures that have hit the country and the department, the new system is, according to Remand detainee Patrick Sebanyoni’s (not real name) trial continues via live transmission. Mr Collin Govender (Director Security and Infrastructure), exactly what the doctor have ordered. He said once the system is fully operational, it will save the department millions of rands, time and bring relief from administrative red tape. JULY/AUGUST 2009 Officials view the live transmission of court proceedings as offender Patrick Mawela (not real name) appears for culpable homicide. “It will mean that we do not have to transport remand detainees to and from the courts. It will reduce labour and transport costs. We will no longer bear the risk of escapes during transportation to and from the courts. The risk of smuggling of illegal substances will be minimal because once detainees reach our facilities, they will only be moved once their fate has been decided,” explained Mr Govender. “This is a great achievement and it will reduce the risk to staff and the public as we strive to create a safer environment for all South Africans. The system will enable us to comply with the security regulations that require us to minimise the risk to the public when moving detainees between locations,” added Mr Govender who is also the project leader of the broadcast solution. Mr Damons was among those who witnessed the testing on 28 August and he was Trial proceedings are followed in real time on the television screen. ecstatic that the project was kicking off. He said the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development will become the owner of the system and that department will be responsible for its costs. “We are ready to implement this solution. Pretoria will be the first to go live and 21 other centres will follow in this financial year. Forty seven magistrates’ courts countrywide will be linked up to the system during the first phase that involves 22 centres,” he said. The plan is to roll out the system to another nine centres in the 2010/11 financial year. At Pretoria Central, four rooms have been set aside to serve as court rooms. The success of the Video Arraignment Solution will go a long way towards easing the burden that came with the belttightening measures to contain expenditure in the department. Of late budgets had to be shifted to make ends meet and the predicament is said to remain until the end of the current financial year. 5
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Page 3: M A N A G E M E N T N E W S Viva Im
Page 7 and 8: M A N A G E M E N T N E W S New smo
Page 9 and 10: IMBOKODO: the strength of a woman A
Page 11 and 12: Offenders relish the rare opportuni
Page 13 and 14: Helping Tshwane Home of Hope By Tsh
Page 15 and 16: R E H A B I L I TAT I O N Orphanage
Page 17 and 18: R E H A B I L I TAT I O N Ridwaan A
Page 19 and 20: Lawn bowling the greens on fire. Th

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