Question NW2073 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
01 August 2018 - NW2073
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(1)Whether his department’s victim-offender dialogue programme is a prerequisite for parole applications to be considered; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how much weight is given to the victim-offender dialogues when parole applications are considered; (2) what number of (a) further profile dates decisions did he take recommending that a victim-offender dialogue be completed (i) in each of the past six calendar years and (ii) since 1 January 2018, (b) parole applications for persons serving (i) life sentences and (ii) other sentences were granted without a victim-offender dialogue in each year and (c)(i) his department’s officials and (ii) other organisation were available in each management area in each of the specified years to facilitate victim-offender dialogues?
Reply:
1.Victim-offender-dialogue programme is not a prerequisite for consideration of offenders on parole. However it is a crucial element in the rehabilitation process to ensure effective social reintegration with more involvement by victims, families and communities.
(2) (a)(i)(ii) (b)(i)(ii)
The current Admission and Release System (A&R) is outdated and the Department of Correctional Services is developing and piloting an Integrated Inmate Management System (IIMS) that will replace the A & R System. This will, amongst others, enable the DCS to manage the admission and release of offenders in an integrated manner. The A & R System was not configured to reflect the requested information and it is therefore unfortunately not readily available.
(2) (c)(i)(ii)
The department has always used its professionals Social Workers, Psychologist Chaplains and even the external partners to facilitate the Victim-Offender Dialogue (VOD) anytime it is required. VOD forums have been established in management areas to facilitate these VODs. Lastly Social Auxiliary Workers have been contracted from 2015 to assist in the implementation of Restorative Justice (VOM/VOD).