Question NW3784 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
25 November 2022 - NW3784
Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(1)What total number of (a) prisons are currently overcrowded to date and (b) projects currently exist to capacitate the specified prisons with the required resources and equipment; (2) Whether there have been any links between the overcrowding of prisons and the health deterioration of some inmates; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) How has he found did overcrowding negatively impact the human incarceration, rehabilitative and human rights imperatives of his department?
Reply:
(1) Attached as Annexure A.
(2) The Department does not have any evidence suggesting a link between overcrowding of prisons and the health deterioration of inmates. Inmates are provided with primary health care services in the correctional centres based on identified health needs and clinical conditions. Where applicable, inmates are referred to external public health facilities for secondary and tertiary levels of health care.
(3) Overcrowding places limitation in terms of space in the facilities for conducting group rehabilitation programmes.
Professionals share offices in some cases and that limits the number of inmates they can consult with per day since they have to alternate and share available common office spaces.
END.