Introduction to Central Services Branch

1
Electronic Monitoring in Community Corrections
Introduction to Central Services Branch Building
a caring correctional system that truly belongs
to all
Presentation to Portfolio Committee Date 04.03.2
008
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS

• ACRONYMS SLIDE 3
• ELECTRONIC MONITORING SLIDES 4 - 18
• INMATE TRACKING SLIDES 19 - 29

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Acronyms

• DCS Department of Correctional Services
• EM Electronic Monitoring
• GPS Global Positioning System
• GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
• ATD Awaiting Trial Detainee
• FMD Field Monitoring Device
• ICT Information Communication Technology
• CSIR Council for Scientific Industrial
  Research
• MTEF Medium Term Expenditure Framework
• ATD Awaiting Trial Detainee
• PTD Personal Tracking Device
• MATD Management of Trial Detainee
• A R Admission Release
• RDOMS Remand Detainee Offender Management
  System
• SITA State Information Technology Agency
• IJS Integrated Justice System

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Departments Principled Position Statement
• Electronic Monitoring cannot be deployed
  primarily to alleviate overcrowding but encourage
  maximum community participation in crime
  prevention and rehabilitation
• Department of Correctional Services believes that
  deployment of technology remains an enabler for
  improved service delivery

5
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Previous Attempts to Deploy Electronic Monitoring
• Department of Correctional Services piloted
  electronic monitoring after introduction of
  parole correctional supervision in 1999
  (Pretoria area)
• A further Feasibility Study was conducted in 2004
• The Results of the Pilot and Feasibility Study
• The pilot supported the usefulness of the
  electronic monitoring, however
• Pilot showed incarceration cost R14,75 and
  electronic monitoring R12,82
• The Feasibility Study results showed that areas
  potentially covered by electronic monitoring
  could not match the offender population

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• The Results of the Pilot and Feasibility Study
• The study on the available technology at the
  time showed that electronic monitoring was only
  effective in 26 of urban areas and 19 of the
  rural areas in the country due to reliance on
  electricity and telephone lines
• The current Department of Correctional Services
  position is informed by new technological
  evolution including Global Positioning System and
  Global System for Mobile Communications

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WHY WILL DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
EMPLOY ELECTRONIC MONITORING

• Electronic monitoring can be employed to assist
  in monitoring the following categories of
  persons
• Probationers
• Parolees
• Offenders with Fines
• Awaiting Trial Detainees (with or without Bail)
• Day Parolees
• Offenders Delivering Services to communities
• Offenders on occasional leave

8
Why Will Department of Correctional Services
Employ Electronic Monitoring

• Corresponding statistics

DAILY AVERAGE NUMBER OF OFFENDERS SUBJECT TO COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS DURING JANUARY 2008 DAILY AVERAGE NUMBER OF OFFENDERS SUBJECT TO COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS DURING JANUARY 2008
Correctional Supervision diversion options from Court 8833
Conversions of incarceration into correctional supervision 8069
Awaiting trial under supervision 1532
Sub-total Correctional Supervision 18434
Parole Supervision 33709
TOTAL 52143
9
SNAPSHOT OF OFFENDER POPULATION/COST
Cost per person per day /-R123.00
10
WHY WILL DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
EMPLOY ELECTRONIC MONITORING

• Reduce corruption and intimidation of Department
  of Correctional Services officials
• Enhance family stability and community
  involvement in rehabilitation
• Reduce prison population
• Afford Department of Correctional Services
  personnel more time for rehabilitation
• Research indicates potential savings
• May be a favoured option by the judiciary

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WHAT IS ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND HOW DOES IT
WORK?

• Basic system
• A transmitter within anklet/bracelet attached to
  offender
• Emits signals to a field monitoring device
  connected to a Communication System/Control Room
• Field monitoring device register when offender
  moves outside of set boundaries / tamper with the
  equipment
• Field monitoring device send alert to central
  control room for response

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WHAT IS ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND HOW DOES IT
WORK?

• Active monitoring system
• It is a system for monitoring an individuals
  movement and compliance to time/location
  parameters 24/7/365 in real time.
• The unit is programmable to remember zones that
  are off-limits and areas where the offender is
  required to be at certain times

13
WHAT IS ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND HOW DOES IT
WORK?

• Passive monitoring system
• It is also a system for monitoring an offenders
  movement and compliance with time/location
  parameters 24/7/365.
• It continuously records location data throughout
  the day and is programmable to remember zones
  that are off limit.
• At given intervals, the recorded information is
  downloaded to verify compliance.
• Passive systems are usually cheaper than active
  systems and are ideal for applications that do
  not require immediate notification.

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WHAT IS ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND HOW DOES IT
WORK?

• An ankle bracelet with a radio transmitter as a
  component that works with a Field Monitoring
  Device connected to a home telephone line
• A transmodal (transfer through skin) alcohol
  testing device
• A mini breathalyzer, measuring the offenders
  breath alcohol content. The unit identifies the
  offender using voice verification.
• Active Global Positioning System that utilizes an
  ankle bracelet

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EXAMPLES OF COUNTRIES WITH ELECTRONIC MONITORING

• Canada
• United Kingdom
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Singapore

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CHALLENGES

• Coverage and reach of ICT infrastructure
• Lack of electricity telephone infrastructure
• Currently Department of Correctional Services
  does not have specific budget for implementation
• Offender stigmatisation arising from anklet /
  bracelet
• Public intolerance of people associated with
  criminal activities
• Lack of support systems residential addresses
  where offender can be physically supervised
• Electronic Monitoring does not stop re-offending

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IMPLEMENTATION AND WAY FORWARD

• Partnership with CSIR
• Undertake Best Practice review
• Cost Benefit Analysis (equivalent of the
  Regulation 16 requirements)
• Complete the planning processes in time to allow
  for (inclusion in MTEF) budgeting for 2009/10

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STATUS REPORT INMATE TRACKING
Introduction to Central Services Branch Building
a caring correctional system that truly belongs
to all
Presentation to Portfolio Committee Date 04.03.2
008
19
OBJECTIVES OF INMATE TRACKING

• 1. Decrease detention cycle time of Awaiting
  Trial Detainees.
• 2. Optimise the management of facilities and
  population.
• 3. Assist in security management within the
  detention facilities.
• 4. Support the following processes Admissions,
  Releases, Roll Calls, Bail and Visitations within
  the broader IJS.
• 5. Support detainee scheduling processes.

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BRIEF BACKGROUND

• The systems main purpose is to provide
  electronic tracking, including the biometric
  identification and verification of Awaiting Trial
  Detainees, within a Correctional Center.
• The system was identified and sponsored by the
  Integrated Justice System Cluster
• 2 pilot sites (Durban Westville Medium A JHB
  Medium A ) were identified.
• The system has been rolled out to both facilities
  at an initial value of R28m.

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EVALUATION COMMITTEE MANDATE

• The pilot project of the Inmate Tracking System
  had to be evaluated as per the Request for
  Proposal Tender Specification document.
• The Commissioner sanctioned the appointment of
  the Inmate Tracking System pilot Evaluation
  Committee.
• The Committee evaluated the function, efficiency
  and sustainability of the system

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EVALUATION FINDINGS

• 1. Johannesburg Medium A Correctional Centre
• a. Fully operational as per the tender
  specification and has proved to be successful in
  many areas as per the tender specifications,
  despite the challenges noted.
• 2. Durban Medium A Correctional Centre
• The biometric identity verification functionality
  is being fully utilised and is of great value to
  the Correctional Centre.
• Mismanagement of stock and some of the PTDs were
  lost

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FINDINGS OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO MISSING PTDS

• Findings
• The then Area Commissioner was not cooperative
  with investigations
• 3236 PTDs unaccounted for (R2,7m)
• Some were discovered after investigation
• Recommendations
• Unaccounted PTDs be written off
• No one be held accountable inmates doings
• Disciplinary steps be taken against Area
  Commissioner

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EVALUATION FINDINGS

• The Inmate Tracking System at JHB Med A satisfies
  the project objectives proven to be valuable
  and beneficial.
• 2. The identity verification functionality is
  readily deployable to other Correctional Centres
  can be used independent of the broader Inmate
  Tracking System.
• The Inmate Tracking System generates added value
  spin-offs, not only in terms of the ATDs but can
  also be utilized with sentenced offenders.
• The PTDs used are inefficient, non-durable, bulky
  and therefore unsustainable
• Involvement of local management and staff
  critical for effective roll-out of the project
• Component suppliers and procurement difficult to
  manage

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RECOMMENDATIONS

• The identity verification functionality be
  sustained at Durban Johannesburg Medium A
  Correctional Centres.
• The Inmate Tracking System project at JHB Med A
  Correctional Centre be extended for an additional
  12 months with its full functionality, to bridge
  the identified gaps
• Roll-out the Identity verification to 11 centres
  with higher ATD population
• Develop local prototype of personal tracking
  device

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CURRENT STATUS

• Personal Tracking Device Development
• A User Requirements Specification has been
  completed for both the Development of the
  Prototype and the Integration of the Biometrics
  Identification and Verification Mechanism into
  the AR.
• SITA is finalizing requirements for the Magic
  software and the tender process will ensue before
  the end of the financial year

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CURRENT STATUS

• Identity Verification Roll-out
• The sites identified and correspond with the MATD
  project (and video arraignment) sites
• Roll-out awaits completion of integration and
  upgrade of AR

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WAYFORWARD

• Integrate Biometric Identity verification into
  AR and RDOMS completed
• Roll out ID verification to 11 big sites
  beginning of new financial year
• Testing new prototype for new generation PTDs
  in Joburg Medium A

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THANK YOU Renewing our Pledge A National
Partnership to Correct, Rehabilitate and
Reintegrate Offenders for a safer and secure
South Africa