Question NW424 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
01 April 2021 - NW424
Yako, Ms Y to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What total number of prisoners has he had to release prematurely during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to manage the numbers at correctional centres?Nw477E
Reply:
Out of the 19 000 estimated Low Risk Sentenced offenders who have or will reach their minimum detention periods within a period of sixty (60) months from 27 April 2020, a total of 13 765 (12 980 males and 785 females) have been placed in the system of Community Corrections to continue serving their sentences were released as at the 19 February 2021, in managing overcrowding and mitigating the spread of COVID-19 virus in Correctional Centres. Other offenders who were initially eligible for the dispensation were discovered to have further charges and as such they no longer qualify. This process is still continuing as some of those who qualify are required to attend rehabilitation programmes.
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