Management of Remand Detainees in South Africa - DCS-Home

trial detention by the courts and for the detention institutions the drivers are the number of
admissions and the length of stay.
The services provided to RDs must be prescribed by legislation and policy framework. The
services that are provided according to the international law for some countries include the
following:
o Continuity in education and training in line with Government policy;
o Safety of person;
o Access to social welfare services;
o Accessibility to state-provided health care;
o Accessibility to visits, communication and correspondence with family and
friends;
o Accessibility to recreational and reading resources; and
o Accessibility to legal representation.
Consideration should be given to alternatives to remand detention such as Correctional
Supervision as determined by the court, obligations to report to the police, travel ban, bail,
house arrest, and electronic monitoring.
Consideration should be given to international best practice which include the following:
o Interdisciplinary approaches to reduce the length of detention and management of
overcrowding;
o Personnel training should include rights of RDs;
o Detention of juveniles should be utilized as a last resort for the shortest possible
period of time;
o The rights and needs of women should be fully met including preservation of links
with family including young children. Particular attention should be paid to women
detained with children. The best interest of the child should be taken into
consideration.
o Communication of the rights of RDs to all of them including foreign nationals and
promotion of access to information and legal counselling.
o Contact with outside world to maintain family relationships in the form of visits,
telephones and letters.
o Addressing of such health needs as medical, dental and psychological needs arising
from being detained.
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