ID - SOLUTIONS MUST BE FOUND TO ALLEVIATE OVERCROWDING IN PRISONS
20 NOVEMBER 2008-Sakkie Jenner, ID spokesperson for correctional services, has called on the Department to urgently address overcrowding in prisons by implementing the recommendations of a report by the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR).
Sakkie Jenner, ID spokesperson for correctional services, has called on
the Department to urgently address overcrowding in prisons by
implementing the recommendations of a report by the Centre for the
Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR).
The call comes after Parliament’s correctional services portfolio committee chairperson criticised the Department, saying it had a “lack of seriousness, vision and planning,” which was “stopping the building of new prisons, considered essential to relieve overcrowding at many of the department's facilities.”
‘As of the 31 March this year, there were 165 840 prisoners in over 175 prisons across the country. The construction of 4 new prisons was promised by government 6 years ago, but only one is currently being built,’ Mr Jenner says.
‘According to the Department, 173 of our prisons exceed the approved capacity, but little has been done to remedy this. We in the Independent Democrats have repeatedly raised the issue of overcrowding with the Department.’
‘In October this year the ID tabled a question before Government asking it whether it considered adopting an action plan for implementing the recommendations emanating from the CSVR report commissioned by Government. To date we have still not received any reply,’ says Jenner.
‘The ID will continue its call on Government to implement these recommendations, until conditions of overcrowding in prisons have improved.’
The Independent Democrats agrees with the recommendations of the report, The Violent Nature of Crime in South Africa, by the CSVR which proposed, amongst others:
1. That the Department… should take stronger measures to ensure that prisons are managed in such a manner as to minimize violence and promote a non-violent environment in prisons. Programmes around emotional and interpersonal awareness and development should also be provided to prisoners along with other life skills or occupational training.
2. Government should fund further research focused on understanding and addressing violence, as well as scientific evaluations of violence-prevention initiatives. In particular, research should be carried out on recidivism among violent offenders in order to inform the debate about the usefulness of minimum-sentencing legislation.
‘The Independent Democrats urges the Department to implement these recommendations as a matter of urgency, in order to fast track the rehabilitation of prisoners and work towards incorporating them back into society as responsible citizens,’ says Jenner.
For media enquiries, please contact Angus Flowers, ID Western Cape Media Officer, on 078 444 8509
The call comes after Parliament’s correctional services portfolio committee chairperson criticised the Department, saying it had a “lack of seriousness, vision and planning,” which was “stopping the building of new prisons, considered essential to relieve overcrowding at many of the department's facilities.”
‘As of the 31 March this year, there were 165 840 prisoners in over 175 prisons across the country. The construction of 4 new prisons was promised by government 6 years ago, but only one is currently being built,’ Mr Jenner says.
‘According to the Department, 173 of our prisons exceed the approved capacity, but little has been done to remedy this. We in the Independent Democrats have repeatedly raised the issue of overcrowding with the Department.’
‘In October this year the ID tabled a question before Government asking it whether it considered adopting an action plan for implementing the recommendations emanating from the CSVR report commissioned by Government. To date we have still not received any reply,’ says Jenner.
‘The ID will continue its call on Government to implement these recommendations, until conditions of overcrowding in prisons have improved.’
The Independent Democrats agrees with the recommendations of the report, The Violent Nature of Crime in South Africa, by the CSVR which proposed, amongst others:
1. That the Department… should take stronger measures to ensure that prisons are managed in such a manner as to minimize violence and promote a non-violent environment in prisons. Programmes around emotional and interpersonal awareness and development should also be provided to prisoners along with other life skills or occupational training.
2. Government should fund further research focused on understanding and addressing violence, as well as scientific evaluations of violence-prevention initiatives. In particular, research should be carried out on recidivism among violent offenders in order to inform the debate about the usefulness of minimum-sentencing legislation.
‘The Independent Democrats urges the Department to implement these recommendations as a matter of urgency, in order to fast track the rehabilitation of prisoners and work towards incorporating them back into society as responsible citizens,’ says Jenner.
For media enquiries, please contact Angus Flowers, ID Western Cape Media Officer, on 078 444 8509
