Department of

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DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Department of
Correctional
Services
POSITION PAPER ON SOCIAL REINTEGRATION
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Table of Contents

• Rationale for Policy Review
• History of Non-Custodial Sentencing
• New Policy Framework
• Statutory Framework
• Integrated Support System
• Forms of Delivery
• DCS Functions in Social Reintegration
• Advantages of the System
• Progress to Date

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Rationale for Revisit

• International Instruments
• United Nation Standard Minimum Rules for
  Non-Custodial Measures Tokyo Rules
• United Nations Minimum Rules for Administration
  of Juvenile Justice Beijing Rules
• 1996 Kampala Declaration Prison Conditions in
  Africa
• 1997 Kadoma Declaration on Community Service
  Orders
• 1999 Arusha Declaration on Good Prison Practice
• 2002 Ouagadougou Declaration on Accelerating
  Prison and Penal Reform in Africa

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Rationale for Revisit

• South African White Paper on Corrections
• Corrections as a societal responsibility
• Offender must play meaningful role in the
  communities
• Partnership must be managed through formal
  relations
• Ensure involvement of the department in community
  initiatives and community participation on
  activities of DCS
• Community involvement to ensure restoration of
  relationships and forgiveness

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Rationale for Revisit

• Promotion of alternative sentencing by the courts
• Improve judicial confidence in insttutions
  managing probationers and parolees
• Promote structures collaboration with external
  partners
• Eliminate duplication of function betwenn DCS,
  Social Development and other social partners

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History of Non-Custodial Sentencing

• The concept introduced in the country in early
  1990s
• Sections of CSA amended to provide for
  correctional supervision (s. 84 (A))
• Programme piloted in Pretoria and Cape Peninsula
• Started with 7 Centres and currently 194
• Registered success 404 probationers and 22 720
  hours of community services.

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CURRENT FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

• Compilation of pre-sentence report
• Monitoring adherence to set conditions
• Oversee supervision activities
• Manage and coordinate activities regarding the
  rendering of community service by offenders
• Co-ordination and facilitation of programmes to
  probationers and parolees
• Tracing of absconders
• Liaise with other government departments/NGOs/CBO
  s/FBOs

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New Policy Framework

• Purpose
• To provide services to all sentenced persons
  (direct to community or incarcerated) in
  preparation for the completion of sentences to
  facilitate social acceptance and effective
  reintegration into their communities.

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New Policy Framework

• Aim of Social Reintegration
• Prepare the offender for successful re-entry
• Re-entry must ensure public safety
• Should aim to reduces chances of relapse and
  repeat offending
• Promote social responsibility
• Promote stable, social and family relationship
• Promote correction, reparation and victim
  empowerment

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New Policy Framework

• Key policy statements
• Social Reintegration aims to extend the scope
  from pre-sentencing to final release.
• The programme is a significant element of
  Rehabilitation
• Encompass services aimed at victim empowerment,
  enable courts appreciate circumstances of
  offenders, ensure family stability, promote
  social responsibility, public participation,
  defined role of NGOs, FBO, etc
• Promote integrated support and services
• Differentiated services to probationers and
  parolees

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New Policy Framework

• Phases of Social Reintegration
• Pre-sentence
• Incarceration phase (sentenced)
• Community sentence (diversion, direct sentence,
  conversion and community service)
• Supervision phase
• Preparation for complete release

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Statutory Framework

• Criminal Procedure Act provides for
• Direct sentencing to correctional supervision
• Place a bailed person under probation officer
• Juvenile can be placed in places of safety or
  probation officer
• Section dealing with diversion not promulgated
• Probation Services Act
• Provides pre-sentence report and support
  programmes for probationers

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Statutory Framework

• Correctional Services Act provides for
• Provides for parole system placing offender to
  serve remainder of sentence in community
• Provides for establishment of Community
  Corrections Offices
• Provides for community service orders (unpaid
  work)
• Promotion of Social Responsibility
• White Paper on Correctional Services
• Provides for Partnerships
• Community involvement in DCS work
• International instruments

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Forms of Delivery

• Partnership
• Contractual relationship to deliver specified
  service Agency Agreement
• Service Level Agreement Provider provide a
  service at own cost and resources
• Volunteer Cadreship supervised by DCS
• DCS Own Resource
• Direct service provision
• Supervised individualised services
• Collaboration with DSD,DoE, DoL, etc

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DCS Functions in Social Reintegration

• Pre-Sentence
• Assessment of ATD
• Compilation of pre-sentence report
• Establishing database for integrated support
• Manage referral system in communities
• Identify and document criminal trends
• Source and provide family support

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DCS Functions in Social Reintegration

• Resettlement
• Induction of family and offender
• Assessment of family, offender and community
• Provide Correctional Sentence Plan interventions
• Update reports on offender and family
• Establish support group for offender
• Identify opportunities for restoration

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DCS Functions in Social Reintegration

• Supervision
• Monitoring adherence to sentence conditions
• Coordinate activities enabling compliance to
  conditions
• Monitor successful reintegration
• Monitor relevant interventions as per risks,
  needs and vulnerabilities
• Oversee complementary supervision activities

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DCS Functions in Social Reintegration

• Community Liaison
• Profiling of communities
• Promotion of correction as societal
  responsibility
• Liaison with local structures (CSF)
• Manage community services database
• Promote diversion programme
• Scan and scout for collaboration activities
• Assist with monitoring and tracing absconders

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Advantages of the System

• Reduce intensity of tracing absconders
• Promote societal involvement in corrections
• Involve local structures in managing offending
  behaviour
• Promote credibility of the system and confidence
  of the judiciary
• Intensify integrated support system
• Reduce the costs of correctional supervision
• Promote awareness of crime prevention
• Promote family stability and reintegration

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Progress to Date

• Completed Departmental Position Paper
• Audited existing staffing competencies
• Integrated Social Reintegration into ORP
• Presentation to Magistrates