Question NW663 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

Reply:

1. All sentenced offenders are subjected to an immediate risk and needs assessment (i.e. immediate educational needs, vulnerability to sexual violence and exploitation, social and psychological needs among others) within 6 hours upon admission. The classification of all offenders is also done for all categories to determine their risk levels. The dynamics of such an offender population must be considered. It is a very mobile population which has a significant impact on the time needed for a useful assessment. The compilation of the Correctional Sentence Plan however is reserved for offenders sentenced to longer than 24 months.

2. Correctional Programmes are available to sentenced offenders. Correctional Programmes are non – therapeutic in nature and rendered within the group work mode, meaning groups of 15 – 20 offenders in a group. Since the Department is focussing on offenders sentenced to longer than 24 months, when assessments are conducted and programmes rendered accordingly, these groups of offenders are not obliged to attend Correctional Programmes. The following thirteen (13) Correctional Programmes are however available to sentenced offenders:

1. New Beginnings Orientation
2. Anger Management (Anger In Anger Out)
3. Cross Roads
4. Restorative Justice Orientation
5. Preparatory Programme on Sexual Offences
6. Substance Abuse (Stop to Start)
7. Behaviour Modification Programme on Gangsterism
8. Economic Crime Programme (fraud related)
9. Economic Crime Programme (theft related)
10. Programme on Murder and related offences (Changing Lanes)
11. Programme on Robbery and related offences (Change is possible)
12. Correctional Programme for Female Offenders
13. Pre – Release Programme

Educational Programmes

All offenders are subjected to assessment for placement in the various educational programmes. Educational programmes are offered to all inmates in the following:-

• Pre – Literacy (for those who are illiterate): This programme is offered for offenders who cannot read or write
• Adult Education and Training (AET) Levels 1- 4: This is equivalent to Grades 1-9 in normal mainstream education and it’s for offenders who want to pursue studies in the General Education and Training (GET) Band.
• Further Education and Training (FET): Grades 10 - 12. All those offenders that have successfully completed the above-mentioned programme get an opportunity to pursue studies in the FET Band following a curriculum known as Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS), similar to all external schools within the education system of the country. These are offered by the DCS full time schools.
• Higher Education and Training (HET): After completing their Grade 12 qualification, offenders are afforded an opportunity to advance their education through distant education.
• Computer Based Training: This programme is offered to promote computer based learning and is offered in designated Computer Based Training Centres (CBT) where we offer basic Computer Literacy as well as the advanced International Computer Driver’s License (ICDL).

Skills Development Programmes

Skills Development programmes are available to offenders serving a sentence of 24 months or less, where resources are available the following options are available:

• Vocational skills training programmes are offered as per availability at a Correctional Centre. Offenders are offered accredited and non-accredited training. The Department focuses on ensuring that offenders assigned to workplaces are offered accredited training, in addition to workplace learning, to ensure employability and self-sustainability upon release.
• An example of the programmes available are hairdressing, nail technology, chef assistant training, waste management, new venture creation, welding, plumbing, and other entrepreneurial training programmes just to mention a few.
• Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College programmes are available to offenders who want to enter the vocational educational field and it is also available as a post school option, at Correctional Centres where resources are available. The objective of the TVET College programme, is to yield job–linked programmes and graduates that are immediately employable. This is the contribution of DCS in counteracting the high rate of unemployment by improving skills and productivity of the incarcerated.

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