Author: manelisw
Last saved by: User
Company: Correctional Services

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
MEDIA STATEMENT

To all media 
For immediate use
19 November 2010 

CORRECTIONAL SERVICES HAS AN ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS MATTERS RAISED BY THE JUDICIAL INSPECTORATE OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

The Department of Correctional Services has noted with appreciation matters raised by the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services (JIOCS) in its annual report presented to the Portfolio Committee yesterday. 
The Department has studied the JIOCS annual report and has already developed a draft action plan to address and respond on all matters raised in the report, which will be presented to the National Commissioner of Correctional Services when he returns from a study tour in New York in the United States of America.
The Department wishes to re-iterate its confidence and respect of the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services and appreciates the amount of work it has done and the analysis reflected in the report, which will contribute in the efforts of the leadership of the Department to turn around its service delivery capacity.
We also appreciate the JIOCS’ acknowledgement of progress made, although not enough, in a number of areas that include: 
1.	The reduction of overcrowding from 170% to 138% in ten years, 
2.	Increased local capacity to delivery better services through the implementation of the OSD and the 7-day establishment, 
3.	The continued reduction of deaths, and 
4.	Increasing numbers of offenders getting involved in productive work and recreation as methods of mitigating the impact of overcrowding that continues as an international phenomenon.  
We also appreciate the reflections on the impact of the broader framework of the criminal justice system on Correctional Services, like the minimum sentence legislation that resulted in 572% increase of the number of lifers in custody.  Other issues being handled by the JCPS, mentioned by the JIOCS are:  the plea bargain, better management of the Remand Detention System and use of the option of the admission of guilt fine by the South African Police Services for minor offences.  Indeed these are matters the Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster is seized with. 
It should be noted though that the unacceptable incarceration conditions prevailing in some of our centres is not a uniform phenomenon across correctional centres.  The issues of infrastructure development and maintenance needs highlighted in Rustenburg and other facilities are being attended to as the infrastructure revamping and improvement programmes costing about R800million is being rolled out.  Other issues regarded as priorities include down management of deaths, increasing offender access to rehabilitation and corrections programmes, as well as increase provision of basic service to offenders.  Actually these matters are contained in the Minister’s service delivery agreement and were central in the strategic planning session of the Executive Management facilitate by the National Commissioner two weeks ago.  
 The Department is planning to engage the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services soon while also preparing for a comprehensive response to the Portfolio Committee in due course.

Issued by Communications – Department of Correctional Services 
Enquiries: Manelisi Wolela - 0836260304