NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CRIME PREVENTION SUBMISSION
Honorable Chairperson, Mr Dennis Bloem, and members of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, NICRO wishes to bring to your notice the following issues: NICRO focussed on the issues of the budget that affects the work of the organisation directly.

I need to first start of by saying that we as a nation, that is both civil society and government have failed in our attempts to successfully reintegrate ex prisoners back into society. We have not been able to implement models for offender reintegration that have a proven success rate. The present rate of recidivism is indicative of the fact hat we have failed to effectively reintegrate offenders back into society.

I must also say that I have been involved in the field of offender reintegration for twenty four years. The issues we raised regarding offender reintegration and prisons twenty four years ago is the same issues we discussing today. We need to stop dissecting the problem and start thinking out of the box. Stakeholders attending various meetings and workshops should focus on finding creative solutions rather than discussing the problems in minute detail.

We are all aware that the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders still poses a critical challenge to Correctional Services, NGOs and Civil Society. NICRO acknowledges the Department of Correctional Services for its efforts in focussing on Social Reintegration of prisoners. However, taking note of the budget allocation, we believe that far more resources need to be allocated to Social Reintegration. We feel that attempts by the Department to work on rehabilitation\reintegration programmes must be done in partnership with civil society. Again we need to reiterate we note the efforts of the Department of Correctional Services in this regard. We all need to take note that in order to break the cycle of crime, we have to put all effort into Social Reintegration programmes both within the prison and upon release. We need to acknowledge that we are far from reaching our goal of having effective Social Reintegration programmes. With the present rate of recidivism civil society organisations need support from Government to affect reintegration programmes for released prisoners. NICRO has also redesigned its reintegration programme in order to expand its services to both prisoners and released prisoners.

We acknowledge that overcrowding remains a challenge. NICRO believes that all partners within government and civil society should be involved in assessing each awaiting trial prisoner with the main purpose of fast tracking their cases. We need to think out of box in order to find creative solutions to reduce the number of awaiting trail prisoners. One of the strategies to deal with this problem is to fast track those who have committed minor offences. Adult diversion can be used as one of the strategies to fast track the process and in turn reduce the awaiting trail population. We acknowledge that issues like case backlogs and other challenges that face the Criminal Justice System will have to be dealt with simultaneously.

The issue of revenue which is estimated at R84 million for 2007\8 generated through the sale of products produced in Correctional centres, the hiring of offenders labour should be critically looked at. NICRO believes that the challenge is to ensure that prisoners are gainfully employed upon release from prison. With South Africa’s high unemployment rate, prisoners have a minimal chance of securing employment. The skills they obtain in prison is often wasted upon release as there is limited or no opportunity to continue employment after release. NICRO has conceptualised a model which will ensure the continuation of this process of gainful employment coupled with skills development for released offenders. We are unable to implement this model as we do not have the resources to do so. We hope to engage the Department of Correctional Service to come on board as a partner to implement the new model. The partnership with Correctional Services will enable NICRO to first run two pilots in order to assess the impact of this programme. On the issue of skills training and employment of prisoners when they are incarcerated we need to re-look at the present model. NICRO believes that employment of prisoners is an issue that has not been fully explored by Correctional Services or organs of civil society. We are of the opinion that payment of prisoners must also be redesigned. NICRO would like to suggest that a different model of payment for work done in prison should be designed. Part of the payment should go the family of prisoners in order to enable the family to at least put food on the table. We are also of the opinion that some funds should be saved by the prisoner in preparation for his\her release.

Although the Department has realigned its resources to focus on Social Reintegration, NICRO believes that more effort should be placed on this programme. We all know that in order to reduce the rate of recidivism we have to give effect to rehabilitation\reintegration programmes that prove to have the necessary impact. NICRO believes that as a country we do not give enough attention to the issue of Offender Reintegration.

In or submission last year we proposed the introduction of the concept of family reunification and reconstructive services. We would like to appeal that this is taken into consideration by the Department of Correctional Services. We feel strongly that this should be incorporated within the Social Reintegration programme while the prisoner is incarcerated.

Correctional Supervision and Parole must be linked to intensive therapeutic programmes upon release. NICRO has included in its newly designed reintegration programme the model of therapeutic work focussing on deinstitutionalisation. NICRO notes that expenditure has been increased for this area of work and would like to support the Department of Correctional Services in this regard.

From our last submission last year we would like to give you feedback on the research that has been completed by NICRO concerning children incarcerated with their mothers. These findings have been made available to the Department of Correctional services

We are willing to assist the Department of Correctional Services with this process in order to ensure the wellbeing of all children incarcerated with their mothers. We are presently awaiting funding to complete the next phase of the research as mentioned previously that is children left behind in families and communities when parents or caregivers are incarcerated. These children are most vulnerable and we therefore need to jointly develop a model that would meet their needs.

I would like to conclude by acknowledging the efforts of the Department of Correctional services in realigning its resources to give effect to Social Reintegration programmes. However we need to be mindful of the fact that we have a long way to achieving our objectives. We need to work harder at a multidisciplinary approach in finding solutions to implement effective Social Reintegration programmes in and out of prison which will in turn reduce the rate of recidivism. NICRO considers the Department of Correctional Services a key partner in giving effect to breaking the cycle of crime and violence. We would once again like to stress the importance of partnership between Government and organs of civil society.