Title: Department of
1DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Department of
Correctional
Services
DIRECTORATE SUPERVISION (Probationers
Parolees) Briefing to Select Committee on
Correctional Services on Community Corrections
2INTRODUCTION
The Department exercises super-vision and control
over offenders and persons who have been
sen-tenced to or placed under correc-tional and
parole supervision in the community as well as
the re-integra-tion of offenders into the
commu-nity.
3 DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS
Correctional Supervision Correctional Supervision
is a community based sentence, which is served by
the offender in the community under the control
and supervision of correctional officials and/or
volunteers. Such offenders are subjected to
conditions, which have been set by the court or
the Parole Boards in order to protect the
community and prevent relapse into crime.
Persons who are serving sentences of Correctional
Supervision are called probationers.
4 DEFINITION CONTINUE
Parole Supervision Parole refers to that portion
of the sentence of imprisonment which is served
in the com-munity under the control and
supervision of correctional officials subject to
conditions which have been set by the Parole
Boards. Correctional and parole supervision are
col-lectively referred to as Community
Correc-tions.
5BASIC STATISTICS
Community Corrections Population is reflected as
follows Probationers 26 018 Parolees
50 582 Total 76 600
6BASIC STATISTICS
Positions at Community Corrections Correctional
officials 1 787 Social Workers 165 The per
capita cost of keeping a person in prison is
R103.69 per day. The per capita cost of keeping a
person in the Community Corrections system is
R10.21 per day
7CONDITIONS
- To exercise the necessary supervision and control
over offenders in the system of Community
Corrections, the following conditions are set for
offenders. - Monitoring
- House detention
- Rendering of Community Service
- Seeking of employment
8CONDITIONS
- Payment of victim compensation
- Takes part in need-based programmes
- Restricted to one or more Magisterial Districts
- Live at a fixed address
- Refrain from the use/abuse of alcohol/drugs
9CONDITIONS
- Refrain from committing a criminal offence
- May not violate any conditions
10ADHERENCE TO CONDITIONS
- Probationers and parolees are subjected to one of
five different phases, namely Phase I to V. - These phases determine the degree of strict-ness
of the conditions to which probationers and
parolees are subjected. - Monitoring officials exercise control over them
by means of physical contact to the workplace,
home or place at which community service is
rendered.
11DEALING WITH VIOLATIONS
- If an offender violates a condition, the
- following actions may be taken
- Verbal warning
- Written warning
- Final warning
- Change of conditions
- Issuing of G306-warrant
12Transformation of Community Corrections
CURRENT IDEAL FEATURES
Determine suitability of offender for placement in the system of community corrections Victim should be con-sidered consulted in determining the suita-bility of the placement of an offender in the system of Community Corrections
13Transformation of Community Corrections
CURRENT IDEAL FEATURES
At present the Supervision Committee is composed of officials of the Department Consideration should be given to inputs by members of forums to deal with offenders by the supervision committee
14Transformation of Community Corrections
CURRENT IDEAL FEATURES
At present monitoring officials are tracing absconders Tracing units should be established at every community correction office to deal with the tracing of absconders
15Transformation of Community Corrections
CURRENT IDEAL FEATURES
At present the marketing process is not effective The media, brochures and forum meetings should be effectively utilized to market alternative sentencing options
16Transformation of Community Corrections
CURRENT IDEAL FEATURES
Previously all offenders were admitted to the maximum category. New classification system which entails more privileges has been developed. Offenders are now admitted according to the potential risk they pose to society.
17Transformation of Community Corrections
CURRENT IDEAL FEATURES
Not all offices are accessible to all offenders Community Corrections are being decentralized to make them more accessible to all offenders and to deal more effectively with complaints and requests