Management of Remand Detainees in South Africa - DCS-Home

2.9.1. Interdisciplinary approaches to reduce the length and application of remand
detention in order to eliminate the problem of overcrowding.
Efficient institutions should be established, in order to make effective routines for investigation
procedures and the course of justice. For the purpose of further developing the concepts and
application of alternatives to Pre-trial detention, particular emphasis should be put on developing
an adequate instrument of risk assessment to better enable the judicial authority to apply
alternatives to Pre-trial detention. In 1996, an interagency working group was set up in Australia
to investigate the high remand rate which had implications for reducing overcrowding. The
Nizhny Novgorod Project for Justice Assistance (NPSP) was initiated to reduce overcrowding of
jails in Russia. This project established a new system for recording information about each
detainee in order to assist prosecutors with supervising the progress of cases. The focal point of
the system is actually a new software program created by NPSP staff which facilitates prompt
interagency communication thereby promoting interagency co-operation.
2.9.2. Staff: working conditions and training
Staff should be provided with safe and adequate working conditions. The social status and
dignity of prison and police staff working with RDs should be strengthened. Staff should be
under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice or its equivalent. Training of all prison and police
staff should include courses on the rights of RDs. Auckland Central Remand Prison in New
Zealand and the Adelaide Remand Centre in Australia are examples of remand facilities where
staff training has played a significant role in addressing the needs of RDs.
2.9.3. Juveniles in remand detention
All juveniles should be treated by non-custodial alternatives to detention. Only older juveniles
may be detained if they are accused of very serious crime and only as a measure of last resort
for the shortest possible period of time. Where custody is inevitable, juveniles must be separated
from adults and be given the opportunity to access education, training or other kinds of
purposeful activities. Most countries adhere to separating juveniles from adults in remand
facilities. There are also many countries that house juveniles in completely separate facilities.
However, in Iceland, juveniles are not separated from adults. In Latvia, an area of concern is the
rate of juvenile RDs which is currently at 6.1%. This figure is the highest in Europe and since
2000 more than 60% of juvenile RDs have been held without a court sentence.
2.9.4. Women in remand detention
The rights and needs of women RDs should be fully met. Issues of hygiene provision specialised
medical requirements and preserving links with families, particularly young children, all need to
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