Question NW27 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

OBJECTIVE

STRATEGY

ACTIVITIES

To maintain a secure and safe environment that is conducive to the rehabilitation of inmates and the attendance of remand detainees in court processes.

Working with Intelligence Agencies

• Collaborate with Intelligence agencies i.e., Secret Security Agency (SSA), South African Police Services (SAPS), Crime Intelligence, South African National Defence Force Intelligence;

• Information sharing and actions to be taken on High Risk offenders, officials, members of the community and illegal activities taking place inside and outside correctional facilities.

Vetting and Screening of all Officials

• All Officials to undergo vetting / screening

Profiling of Gang members

• Photos are taken of all the tattoos on the offenders’ body. (Upper and Lower body);

• Record all additions and changes to profiled tattoos with regular intervals/ as soon as it becomes known;

• Utilisation of community profiling information;

• Previous history of offences;

• Maintenance of Electronics Record Systems for easy reference;

• Track and trace including monitoring of re-offending patterns.

Management of Security Information

• Identify gang members and high risk inmates upon admission. All warrants (J7) and relevant documents are screened upon admission;

• All cases of intimidation/threats must be registered with the Head of Correctional Centre (HCC);

• HCC must liaise with Area Commissioner and external law enforcement agencies such as the SAPS and SSA in cases of intimidation and threats;

• Identified high risk inmates (syndicates/organised crime and high risk awaiting trials) should be transferred to Correctional Centres away from their power base.

Establishment of Security Committees

• Committees have been established in order to effectively manage security activities in centres such as searching, segregation of offenders, discipline, etc. Hold monthly meetings to analyse incidents, security breaches and compliance to security protocol.

To facilitate the combatting approach to prevent ,reduce and eradicate disruptive groups (e.g. gangs) on the Management of Correctional Centres;

Interventions to discourage Gangsterism

• Offenders that divulge security information leading to positive results are rewarded in line with Special Remission policy;

• Disciplinary actions are taken against gang members and Staff for involvement in gang activities;

• Criminal activities reported to law enforcement agencies;

• Develop an Information gathering and processing capacity in order to implement a “Virtual Analytics environment “ linking collectors, exploiters , analysts, and stakeholders electronically , to improve its responsive to and the management of gangs.

Development and Implementation of an Information Management

To enable inter-sectorial co-operation (i.e. government and civil society) to promote Correctional Centre and Community safety

Establish Inter-Sectorial forums to promote Correctional Centre and community safety

• Regular meetings between Head of Centres and Law Enforcement Agencies

• DCS Management and officials participate in the following structures:

• Provincial Joint Operational And Intelligence Structure (PROVJOINTS), National Joint Operational And Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), National Intelligence Coordinating Committee (NICOC), Anti-Gang Unit (AGU), Community Forums, Special Operations, etc.

• Educate learners at Schools and Community members about the danger of engaging in Gang activities

• Educate and train officials on how to infiltrate gang operations

To address the potential negative effects of incarceration;

Interventions to discourage Gangsterism:

• Inmates that divulge security information leading to positive results are rewarded in line with Special Remission policy;

• Disciplinary actions are taken against gang members and Staff for involvement in gang activities;

• Criminal activities reported to law enforcement agencies;

Development and Implementation of an Information Management System

• Develop Information gathering and processing capacity in order to implement a “Virtual Analytics Environment “ linking collectors, exploiters , analysts, and stakeholders electronically , to improve responsiveness to the management of gangs .

To address the potential negative effects of incarceration;

Effective orientation of inmates on admission and during incarceration;

• An orientation/ Information manual is availed to all offenders upon admission and during Case Management Committee processes (CMC);

• Orientate all Remand Detainees on admission;

• All inmates are informed of Unit rules upon admission and continuously thereafter;

• All inmates are sensitised to the threats of Gangsterism on a continuous basis;

• Implementation of Integrated Inmates Management System (IIMS).

To develop and build knowledge about Gangs and effective response in Gang Management to inform, review and monitor / improve strategies

Ongoing Research to improve knowledge on Gangs and other disruptive inmates groups and creating safer correctional centers

• Department is currently in negotiation with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to sign an MoU to assist with research on various topics of which gangsterism is included.

Mitigation of gang activities

• The process of training officials on basic intelligence and information gathering is underway;

• Ensure separation of inmates involved in gang activities from the rest of inmate population, vulnerable inmates, first time offenders and offenders with further charges.