Department of Correctional DIRECTORATE: SUPERVISION (Probationers & Parolees) Briefing to Select...

Department of

CorrectionalDIRECTORATE: SUPERVISION (Probationers &

Parolees) Briefing to Select Committee on Correctional Services

on Community Corrections

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

Services

Department of Correctional Services

INTRODUCTION

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.


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.


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.


BASIC STATISTICS

Community Corrections Population is reflected as follows:

Probationers : 26 018Parolees : 50 582Total : 76 600


BASIC 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


CONDITIONS

• 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


CONDITIONS

• 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


CONDITIONS

• Refrain from committing a criminal

offence

• May not violate any conditions


ADHERENCE 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.


DEALING 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


Transformation 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



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




At present monitoring

officials are tracing

absconders

Tracing units should be established at every community correction office to deal with the tracing of absconders




At present the

marketing process is

not effective

The media, brochures and forum meetings should be effectively utilized to market alternative sentencing options




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.




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


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