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Build a caring correctional system that truly belongs to all REPORT ON SPECIAL REMISSION 2005 Slide 2 Index Background Rationale Approval Implementation plan Implementation Release schedule Total of releases from Community Corrections Breakdown of releases from Community Corrections (per Region) Total releases from Correctional Centers Slide 3 Index (cont..) Breakdown of releases from Correctional Centers (10 August) in regions to external service providers Re-offending Breakdown of re-offending Experience Recommendations Slide 4 Rationale Granting of pardon, reprieve of offenders, amnesty & special remission enshrined in Constitution normal international practices of managing delivery of Correctional Services in Democracies around world, usually marking special event Approach of White Paper which places public safety first & promotes shared responsibility for correcting offending behavior & rehabilitation is paramount to governments programme of granting special remission to offenders Slide 5 Rationale In terms of Chapter 5, Section 84 (2) (j) of the Constitution: the President is responsible for (j) pardoning or re prieving offenders and remitting any fines, penalties or forfeitures President requested then Minister of Correctional Services to develop proposal around amnesty for offenders as part of 10 years Democracy celebrations in 2004 Management established departmental task team to do groundwork in March 2004 Slide 6 Rationale Cabinet Memorandum submitted by DCS with specific factors taken into consideration: Continued zero tolerance towards aggressive, sexual, fire-arm & drug related offences Public interest & concern Integrity of Justice System Safety & security of public Interests of victims of crime Repeat offending by those who gained from remission of sentence Slide 7 Rationale Department of Correctional Services recommend: Maximum of 3 months special remission of sentence to all prisoners, probationers, parolees & day parolees irrespective of crime committed Additional maximum of 7 months special remission of sentence to all prisoners, probationers, parolees & day parolees serving sentences for crimes other than aggressive, sexual & drug related crimes Slide 8 Approval Cabinet approved that President can be approached for granting of Special Remission (amnesty) to sentenced offenders/probationers & parolees with following recommendations: Compulsory pre-release programme Inclusion of Restorative Justice Involvement of NGOs, CBOs, FBOs in pre-release programmes Staggering of releases Priority to be given to children, youth, females, females with babies, elderly & people with disabilities JCPS led by GCIS to develop communication strategy in consultation with DCS Slide 9 Approval (cont..) President approved: Maximum of 6 months special remission of sentence to all prisoners, probationers, parolees & day parolees irrespective of crime committed Additional maximum of 14 months special remission of sentence to all prisoners, probationers, parolees & day parolees serving sentences for crimes other than aggressive, sexual, fire-arm & drug related crimes Other exclusions: Those sentenced under Mental Health Act & those that had escaped & were still at large by 30 th May 2005 Minister mandated by Cabinet to announce Special Remission in Cabinet Slide 10 Implementation plan Planning process considered following: Establishment of structures on National, Regional & local level to provide strategic leadership, monitor, coordinate & oversee implementation Listing all relevant documentation to provide information & establishment of computer systems to facilitate capturing of data Identification of stakeholders to be included in awareness raising process to obtain buy-in & support Identification of master trainers to train correctional officials & professionals to implement special remission Slide 11 Implementation plan (cont..) Consideration of assessment tool & compulsory pre- release programme to identify needs & risks prior to release Preparation of schedule to facilitate staggered release process Establishment of system to monitor & evaluate implementation process Development of Communication strategy Slide 12 Implementation Structures established on National, Regional & local level to ensure compliance & commitment during implementation Developed guidelines, relevant documentation & IT systems to ensure uniformity & common understanding Briefing sessions of all stakeholders to obtain buy-in & support regarding presentation of programmes & to assist offenders referred for continuation of programmes where needs/risks were identified External Other government departments NGOs, CBOs & FBOs Family & friends of offenders Communities Media Slide 13 Implementation (cont..) Internal: All correctional officials Offenders Training of master trainers to train correctional officials & professionals to implement special remission Development of assessment tool & compulsory pre-release programme Scheduling releases to facilitate staggered release process Establishing Operational Centre & toll-free number to ensure access to information by public Slide 14 Implementation (cont..) Developed frequently asked questions & answering system Monitored implementation Daily meetings Daily telephone conferencing (National & Regional) Daily reports to senior management & Ministry Wide media coverage in both electronic & printed media Slide 15 Release Schedule Week 1:30/05 03/06 Admin/Assessment/Pro-grammes as well as releases from Community Corrections Week 2: 06/06 10/06 Admin/Assessment/Pro-grammes as well as releases from Community Corrections Week 3: 13/06 17/06 Females/children/youths/ages/disabled irrespective of sentence category Week 4: 20/06 - 24/06 Sentence group 0-12 months Slide 16 Release Schedule (cont) Week 5: 27/06 01/07Sentenced group >12 24 months Week 6: 04/07 08-07Sentenced group >2 3 years Week 7: 11/07 15/07Sentenced group > 3 5 years Week 8: 18/07 22/07Sentenced group > 5 7 years Week 9 10 : 25/07 09/08 Sentenced group > 7 years Slide 17 Totals of releases from Community Corrections Releases from Community Corrections commenced from 3 June 2005 to create capacity within system & was finalized on 10 June 2005 Total number of 33,972 probationers & parolees benefited from Special Remission Slide 18 Breakdown of releases from Community Corrections (per Region) East Cape GautKZNLMNNC & Free- state West Cape 5 2435 0935 279 8 5304 4005 427 Total: 33 972 Slide 19 Total releases from Correctional Centers Total releases from Correctional Centers 13 June 2005 to 10 August 2005: Week 3 (11 17 June)9,975 Week 4 (18 - 24 June)5,265 Week 5 (25 Jun 1 July)3,560 Week 6 (3 9 July)3,678 Week 7 (10 -16 July)3,263 Week 8 (18 -22 July)2,296 Week 9 -10 (25 July 10 Aug)3,828 Total releases on 10 August: 31,865 Conditionally :11,501 (released into Community Corrections ) Unconditional: 20,364 Slide 20 Breakdown of releases from Correctional Centres (10 Aug) CategoryConditionalUnconditionalTotal Children < 18 3078491,156 Youth (18 - 25) 3,2878,12411,411 Age 26- 657,77511,23319,008 Slide 21 Breakdown of releases from Correctional Centres (10 Aug cont.) CategoryConditionalUnconditionalTotal Elderly > 65 112130242 Disabled202848 Total11,50120,36431,865 Of above figures on all age groups number of females in all categories are: 1,202 Slide 22 Mothers & babies (released in first week: 13-17 June) Western Cape 7 Eastern Cape 4 Free State/NC 3 Gauteng 8 LMN 3 KZN 9 Total 34 Slide 23 Foreign Nationals Western Cape 19 Eastern Cape 10 Free State/NC 28 Gauteng220 LMN118 KZN 16 Total 411 Slide 24 Referrals in Regions to external service providers Western Cape: 22 Eastern Cape: 121 Free State: 192 Gauteng: 7 LMN: 100 KZN: 180 TOTAL: 622 Slide 25 Summary of releases Total of 65,837 offenders benefited from Special Remission & were released in 10 week period 33,972 from Community Corrections 31,865 from Correctional Centres Slide 26 Re-Offending The Department condemns any act of re- offending especially those who have benefited from being given a 2 nd chance. The Department conveys its sympathy to all victims of re-offenders and hereby reiterates the importance of the role of the family in prevention of re-offending. DCS is central to the campaign of no violence against women and children Slide 27 Re-offending On 10 August 2005 total number of 157 offenders who benefited from Special Remission have been admitted to Correctional Centers as Awaiting Trial Detainees Interviews are being conducted by social workers/psychologists to establish possible causal factors for alleged re-offending Slide 28 Breakdown of Re-offending Status in Regions: Western Cape: 61 (including 1 female) Eastern Cape: 34 (including 1 female) Free State/NC: 45 (including 2 females) Gauteng: 3 (including 1 female) LMN: 10 (including 1 female) KZN: 4 Total: 157 (6 females) Slide 29 Re-Offending (cont..) Of the 65,837 offenders released during Special Remission a total of 157 offenders were re-admitted to Correctional Centres after re-offending during this 10 week period (0,23%) Alleged crimes committed mainly economical crimes e.g. 58 Housebreaking & theft, 33 theft) as well as 13 robbery, 8 rape & 3 murder, etc. Slide 30 Experience Departmental Initial planning, coordination & adequate timeframes assisted in smooth roll-out process of Special Remission Support, cooperation, teamwork & commitment on all departmental levels resulted in common purpose for all Teamwork in DCS resulted in cohesion between: National Office & Regions Custodial & professional staff Slide 31 Experience Departmental contd Process set new service level standard with regard to assessment & pre-release programmes New learning experiences were created & transfer of knowledge & skills which can serve as basis for future projects and/or similar programmes was realized (every member is rehabilitator) Slide 32 Experience Partnerships Willingness & commitment to assist DCS from all stakeholders strengthened partnerships & enhanced Special Remission process (e.g. In first week Premier in Free State/Northern Cape and senior government officials in Eastern Cape attended launch) Existing partnerships with external service providers such as Nicro, Khulisa & SANCA was enhanced & new partnerships with others (e.g. SACC) were forged Departmental strategic objective of advancing corrections as societal responsibility was promoted Positive feedback from all stakeholders (e.g. Inspecting Judge, NCCS, and other members of Parliament) Media coverage was positive Slide 33 Recommendations Rationale for granting of Special Remission of sentence should mark/celebrate special national event in South Africa Coherent message on Special Remission must be communicated to all relevant stakeholders to create common understanding Adequate time to prepare & mobilize society to be ready for re-integration of released offenders must be provided Slide 34 Recommendations Adequate time for DCS to put structures, training, programmes and/or processes in place must be provided Processes followed during Special Remission should be well-documented to inform similar/future projects Slide 35 Recommendations Good practices identified during Special Remission process should be continued & expanded, for example: Continuation of Assessment & pre-release programmes Strengthening of partnerships with external service providers Referrals to external service providers according to identified risks/needs Utilization of custodial members to provide didactic programmes Computerized programmes established for early identification of re-offenders entering correctional system Slide 36 Build a caring correctional system that truly belongs to all Thank you Together we can