Progress: Implementation of Correctional Supervision and Parole Board Grootvlei

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

• Seipati Dichabe

Chairperson of Correctional Supervision and
Parole Board A divorced mother of three, a girl
(pharmacist), boy (engineer) boy
(economist) Qualification MA in Neuro-Linguistic
from the University of Ottawa (Canada) Hobbies
Music (Gospel Opera) , Writing, ( School
Language books) Boards serving SA Geographical
Names Council (Deputy-Chairperson) Free State
Provincial Geographical Names Committee
(Chairperson) Setswana Lexicography Board
(Member)
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LOCATION OF PAROLE BOARD
Groenpunt
Grootvlei
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AREA THE BOARD SERVE
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POPULATION OF SENTENCED OFFENDERS SERVED
Grootvlei Med A B 965
Mangaung (GSL) 2929
Brandfort 198
Boshof 76
Ladybrand 49
Wepener 67
Winburg 144
Total 4428
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Composition of the Board

• CHAIRPERSON S
  DICHABE
• DEP CHAIR
  VACANT
• SECRETARY
  G G NAMANE
• TWO CLERKS C
  KOTZE
• 
  M M METSING
• TWO COMM MEMBERS VACANT
• 
  (Interim Members
• 
  M D Pahlane and
• 
  LM Padi)

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Composition of the Board (Continue)

• Deputy Chairperson Full time posts to be filled
  at ASD level posts have been advertised,
  currently occupied by a DCS member.
• Both community members are on a three monthly
  contract appointments the initially appointed
  members both resigned. (M D Pahlane and L M Padi
  Interim Members).
• The members of the SAPA and DOJ have not yet been
  appointed to the board.

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OPERATIONS

• CASE LOAD PER MONTH THE PAST YEAR 155
• TOTAL FOR THE PAST YEAR
  1868
• NUMBER PLACED ON
• Parole
  568
  
• Day Parole
  18
• Correctional Supervision
  61
• Medical Parole
  0
• SED
  51
• Further Profile
  1150
• Special Remission
  16
• - Possession of dangerous weapon 4
  (4 x 3 months)
• - Possession of drugs
  6 (6 x 2 months)
• - Theft cell phones
  3 (3 x 1 month)
• - Negligence with keys
  2 (2 x 2 months)
• - Good performance
  1 (1 x 3 months)

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PROCEDURES THAT THE BOARD FOLLOWS

• Preparation for the hearing
• Submission of G326 by CMC
• Ensures that calculations of dates are
  correct
• Compilation of agenda
• Ensures that notices of sittings are
  send 14 days
• before sitting to Offender, Offender
• Representative ( If indicated)
• Victim, Victim Representative (If
  present) All
• Board members

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PROCEDURES THAT THE BOARD FOLLOWS (Continue)

• During the parole hearing
• Role of representatives are
  explained
• Ensures that all sittings constitute
  a quorum
• Consult with other CSPBs in cases
  of co-accused
• Each offenders case must be treated
  according to its own
• merit
• Questions addressed during the
  sitting are based on info
• from G326
• The chairperson allows members to
  vote for placement of
• non placement of offender.

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INFORMATION RELEVANT FOR DECISIONS TAKEN

• Each offender must be considered individually on
  own merit.
• Whether the offender has undergone
  rehabilitation and
• developmental programs
• Type of crime is taken into consideration
  especially age of
• victims in rape related crimes.
• Value and mass of drugs is taken into
  consideration.
• Remarks of the presiding magistrate play an
  important role.
• Consistency must be practiced in similar cases
• Offenders historical criminal background
• General behaviour of the offender whilst
  incarcerated
• Information provided by both victim and
  offender and their
• representatives.
• - Positive support system

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ROLES OF CMC. OFFENDER AND VICTIM

• CMC
• - Must ensure that all relevant information
  is provided
• in the G326
• - Provide recommendations for placement/non
• placement of offender
• - Provide condition for the parolee during
  the parole
• period
• - Ensure that all documentation are
  included in the
• report (G326)
• - Prepare document for special remission of
  offender
• for the CSPB.

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ROLES OF CMC. OFFENDER AND VICTIM (Continue)

• OFFENDER
• - To arrange for a representative for the
  hearing
• - Must be informed by the CMC about its
• recommendations forwarded to CSPB and must
  sign
• to acknowledge.
• - The offender must be provided with a
  chance to
• provide information to the CSPB
• - All decision taken by CSPB must be
  forwarded to the
• offender
• - The offender may request through the HCC
  to forward
• a review of
• decision taken by CSPB to the Review Board.

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ROLES OF CMC. OFFENDER AND VICTIM (Continue)

• VICTIM
• - Must be allowed to provide a
  representative during the
• hearing
• - May be present at the hearing if he/she so
  wish
• - Must be informed within 14 days about the
  date,
• venue, and time of the hearing
• - Must be informed about the decision of the
  CSPB
• regarding the placement of offender on
  parole.

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LESSONS LEARNED

• There has been a tendency of officials towards
  the lack of eagerness to implement policies and
  the Act. Through the quarterly meetings of all
  stakeholders held, the awareness and education of
  officials to implement policies and the Act has
  been positive.
• Most of the offenders placed on parole have
  skills but lack knowledge on how to make use of
  these when been placed out on parole. The
  establishment of parolee skills and development
  centres to encourage them to be entrepreneurs
• Due to the un-acceptance of and perception about
  offenders in some communities resulted in
  recidivism. The establishment of Restorative
  justice centres to address the a standing
  conflict between the offender and victim

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LESSONS LEARNED (Continue)

• The community lack information related to the
  incarceration of offenders. The appointment of
  community members for the placement of offenders
  on parole has assisted with the implementation of
  the White paper on Corrections through Imbizos
  and public awareness meetings.
• Establishment of offender support groups has been
  put in place to assist with community
  re-integration process.

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CHALLENGES

• - Incomplete profiles reports G326
  from CMC.
• Lack of important documents such as SAP 62,
  Sentence
• Remarks
• Lack of contact details of victims
• Vacant posts of SAPS and DOJ representatives
• G326 profile report from private prisons
• Incarceration of short term offenders at
  Mangaung Max prison
• Lack of sentence plans for offenders especially
  at DCS centres
• Programs offered not related to the crime of the
  offender.
• Offenders been taken through Life skill
  programs despite the
• type of crime committed. Professional
  officials feel that the
• CSPB is interfering with their expertise and
  responsibilities.
• - Training of community members

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CHALLENGES

• Offenders from communities outside the
• jurisdiction of the CSPB
• - Lack of acceptance and support for offenders
  from family and communities
• - Offenders having been incarcerated for a
  long
• period with having undergone
  rehabilitation and/or
• developmental programs

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ADDRESSING OF CHALLANGES

• The CSPB has taken a stance to return back all
  incomplete
• G 326
• This still creates a problem as the CSPB relies
  on information
• provided by the offender during hearing
• In some cases where the offender knows the victim
  the
• chairperson and the community members visit
  victims and
• request them to provide written reports if
  they can not
• personally attend hearings.
• The chairperson would request the SAPS of the
  community
• where the offender comes from to try assist
  in tracing the
• victims.
• A request has been made to the regional office to
  assist in
• correcting the information currently available on
  the private prison systems

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ADDRESSING OF CHALLENGES (C0ntinue)

• Request are made for transfer of these offenders
  to DCS centres
• This problem makes it difficult for the CSPB to
  make concise decisions because the offender
  rehabilitation path is not implemented. This
  however is not the case at private prisons.
  Implementation of the unit management system has
  been enforced
• Recommended programs are still been requested by
  CSPB
• from professionals
• The CSPB in consultation with Community
  corrections where
• Offenders come from are addressing
  the problem
• Currently the CSPB has taken upon itself to
  liaise between families and communities through
  the assistance of professionals.
• The enforcement of offender to be engaged in
  rehabilitation programs by CSPB before decision
  on placement is considered.

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