Challenges in Rehab Programs in Western Cape Correctional Centers

1. Challenges experienced by NGOs and FBOs in providing rehabilitation programmes in Correctional Centres in the Western Cape 16 November 2016 By Mpho Mathabathe Researcher: Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services

2. Purpose and Outline • Thepurpose of this presentation is to share with the Committee the findings of the study on challenges faced by NGOs and FBOs in providing rehabilitation programmes in correctional centres in the Western Cape • The presentation will firstly provide the methodology used for the study, legislative and policy framework on rehabilitation, general findings and recommendations

3. Methodology • Aims and Objectives of the Study • What are some of the challenges experienced by NGOs and FBOs while rendering rehabilitation programmes in correctional centres? • How often are these challenges experienced? • Is management of the centre aware about these challenges? • How can these challenges be addressed? • Research approach and design • An empirical study has been conducted in the form of interviews with identified organisations rendering rehabilitation programmes in correctional centres in the Western Cape

4. Methodology (Cont..) • Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used as a method of data collection • Interviews conducted with people who facilitate programmes in correctional centres on behalf of their organisations • Four (4) organisations were interviewed • MhaniGingi: Interview on 13 July 2016 • SonkeGende Justice: interview on 19 July 2016 • Centre for Christian Spirituality: Interview on 20 July 2016 • Institute for healing of memories: Interview on 27 July 2016

5. Methodology (Cont..) • Demarcation of the study • The study was only limited to organization rendering rehabilitation programmes in correctional centres in the Western Cape.

6. Legislative and Policy Framework • United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (1955) • Rule 61 states that Community agencies should be enlisted wherever possible to assist the staff of the institution in the task of social rehabilitation of prisoners • Correctional Services Act, 111 of 1998 • Section 16(1) states that “the Department must provide development and support services even when not required to do so by this Act” • Section 16(2) further states that “In all instances, when the Department does not provide such services, the Commissioner must inform prisoners of the services available from other sources and put prisoners who request such services in touch with appropriate agencies”

7. Legislative and Policy Framework (Cont..) • White Paper on Corrections (2005) • White Paper acknowledges that no correctional system can achieve its objectives if it does not have a range of healthy external partnerships • The relationship between DCS and the community, community organisations and faith-based organisations is inherent to the successful achievement of the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders

8. Findings • Summary of general challenges identified • Offenders are sometimes not released from their sections when service providers arrive at a centre to render programmes. Reasons for not availing offenders vary. • The issue of space to run programmes is a key challenge. Sometimes organisations do not have dedicated space for programmes in the centre • The issue of appropriate furniture is also a challenge. Some of the venues do not have chairs, which necessitate some organisations to bring their own chairs • The issue of noise is another challenge. Different organisations run different programmes at the same time and in close proximity to each other. • Scheduled time for programmes is another challenge. Sometimes there is no standard time when the programme will start because of changes in the prison programme for that particular day

9. Findings (Cont..) • Scheduling of prison activities also has a negative effect on offender participation in programmes. For instance, if for that specific day an offender has a visitor or it is a shopping day in the centre, then an offender will miss a session • Communication from centre management is sometimes poor. For instance, when there are new regulations, the programme facilitator will only find out on the day they arrive to run programme. They are not informed well in advance. • The issue of under-staffing is a challenge because relationship has been built with programme coordinators in a specific centre. Therefore, if the coordinator is off-sick for that day, then there is no one to assist with logistics etc..

10. Findings (Cont..) • In other instances HIV/AIDS coordinators are the ones coordinating all programmes including those which are not HIV related or even health related. Therefore, there are vacancies for programme coordinators • Sometimes officials make negative comments to offenders participating in programmes and this affect the offender’ spirit and motivation in participating. • How often are these challenges experienced? • Some challenges are unique to certain organisations while others are more common to others. Therefore, the frequency of these challenges will also depend on the nature of the challenge identified.

11. Findings (Cont…) • Is Management aware of these challenges? • All organisations interviewed indicated that they have raised the challenges they experienced with heads of centres where they run their programmes. Therefore it means management in those centres is aware of those challenges. • How can these challenges be addressed? • In most challenges identified the issue of communication is central. Communication is vital in addressing most of these challenges. • It is important that management of the centre as well as coordinators communicate with organisations in their centres about changes which might affect their programme for that specific day so that programme facilitators can make alternative arrangements.

12. General Recommendations • DCS and in particular management at individual centres improve on their communication with NGOs and FBOs attached to their facilities • Management of centres should engage with all organisations in their centre and arrange a time table for different programmes in the centre • The White Paper on Corrections (2005) states that rehabilitation should be at the centre of departmental activities. The means rehabilitation of offenders should take priority over other prison activities • The Department of Correctional Services should be encouraged to fill vacancies in order to address under-staffing in correctional centre • The management of the centre should identify and train other officials who could assist with coordination of prison programmes so that when the designated official is off-sick then someone who is knowledgeable about the programme could be able to assist the NGO facilitators on the day.

13. End, Thank You