1 / 34

Transforming Prisons into Correctional Centres: A New Beginning

The Department of Correctional Services aims to enforce court sentences, ensure safe custody with human dignity, and promote social responsibility and human development. This mandate is drawn from legal documents and the impact of fulfilling this mandate is discussed. The department's transformation and strategic realignment since 2000 are highlighted, along with its vision, mission, and core values. The implementation of the white paper on corrections in South Africa is discussed, including the promotion of correction as a societal responsibility. The department's long-term strategy is divided into two pillars: as an institution of rehabilitation and the promotion of correction as a societal responsibility.

dwhaley
Download Presentation

Transforming Prisons into Correctional Centres: A New Beginning

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES Department of Correctional Services Transforming prisons into correctional centres- places of new beginnings

  2. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES Strategic Direction Department of Correctional Services 2004-5

  3. AIM OF DCS “The purpose of the correctional system is to contribute to maintaining and protecting a just, peaceful and safe society by — (a) enforcing sentences of the courts in the manner prescribed by this Act; (b) detaining all prisoners in safe custody whilst ensuring their human dignity; and (c) promoting the social responsibility and human development of all prisoners and persons subject to community corrections.” (Correctional Services Act, Act No 111 of 1989)

  4. LEGAL MANDATE MANDATE IS DRAWN FROM: RSA Constitution National Crime Prevention Strategy White Paper On Corrections In South Africa Correctional Services Act 111/98 Regulations Subordinate Policy Institutional Orders

  5. IMPACT OF MANDATE Safe custody to protect society • Escapes undermine core business - grave offences Humane conditions of custody • Violation of offender rights undermines core business - grave offences Promotion of social responsibility • Corruption & social irresponsibility undermine core business - grave offences Promotion of human development • Frustration of offender development undermines core business - grave offences

  6. TRANSFORMATION 1993 - 2000 • Alignment of Department with human rights culture due to 1993 Interim Constitution • 1994 White Paper • Appointment of Inspecting Judge • Affirmative Action process • Approval of National Crime Prevention Strategy in 1996 • Demilitarization 1 April 1996 • New Constitution in 1996 & Bill of Rights • New Correctional Services Act in 1998

  7. STRATEGIC REALIGNMENT SINCE 2000 • Rehabilitation placed at center of all DCS activities • Overhaul of internal strategic planning • Unit Management mainstreamed as vehicle for rehabilitation • Reconceptualizing of Rehabilitation in 2001 • New corporate culture to support rehabilitation & correction • Correction as holistic process • DCS is State’s agent in correction • Upgrade DCS involvement in integrated governance

  8. VISION & MISSION • To be one of the best in the world in delivering correctional services with integrity and commitment • To deliver a Correctional Service in partnership with stakeholders by providing: • Incarceration of prisoners under conditions consistent with human dignity; • Rehabilitation and reintegration programmes, • Proper supervision of persons under community corrections • procurement and acquisition of adequate resources which enable effective response to challenges • Through progressive management, trained personnel, sound work ethics, performance management and good governance.

  9. CORE VALUES • DCS Core Values necessary for rehabilitation orientation of department and members: • Development • Integrity • Recognition of human dignity • Efficiency • Accountability • Justice • Security • Equity

  10. WHITE PAPER ON CORRECTIONS IN SA • Motivation for new white paper • History of transformation of dept • Correction as societal responsibility • Objectives of correctional system • Approach to correctional administration and management • Integrated governance • Who are South Africa’s offenders • Ideal correctional official in appropriate organizational culture

  11. WHITE PAPER cont’d • Government’s responsibilities towards ATDS • Needs-based intervention plan & parole • Safety, security & human dignity as part of rehabilitation • Special categories of offenders • Appropriate & cost effective facilities • External partnerships • Governance & administration

  12. IMPLEMENTATION OF WHITE PAPER • Development of phased & costed implementation plan • Alignment of strategic and operational planning with White Paper Implementation Plan • Development of institutional capacity for delivery on White Paper • Paradigm shift of 34 000 members • Alignment of work of relevant Govt Departments & strategic partners with White Paper

  13. Promotion ofCorrection As a Societal Responsibility (2) DCS LONG TERM STRATEGYTWO PILLARS DCS as an Institution of Rehabilitation (1)

  14. DCS AS INSTITUTION OF REHABILITATION Transformation from prison service to correctional service • Institutional practices directed at offender • Institutional practices with dept administration • Management practices • Processes & systems • Employee profile • Management of external relations – other government departments & service providers & stakeholders

  15. PROMOTION OF CORRECTION AS SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITY • Reduction of new offending from society • Families & communities must address causes of crime & must have correcting influence prior to involvement of criminal justice system • Active support of DCS internal programmes • Support for parolees & people serving community service sentences • As accredited service providers (jointly with DSD) • Family support / visits • Active support for re-entry or restoration of released people into society • As families, employers, community structures

  16. SERVICE DELIVERY RANGE CC Development SENTENCE PLAN CCO CC Correction Person under Correction CCO Facilities CCO CC CC Care After Care CCO Security CC CCO

  17. RESPONSIBILITIES TO MEMBERS Management Information Flow Training & Development Maintenance & Benefits Correctional Official Facilities Exit Management Recruitment & Induction

  18. EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS Community CBOs, NGOs, FBOs International Relations Family Parliamentary Legislative Structures DCS Educational Institutions Private Sector Criminal Justice Cluster Social Sector Cluster

  19. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 2004/5 1. Policy Implementation 2. Improve Compliance with Internal Control Policies 3. Implement Intervention Programs 4. Implement HRD Strategy 5. Improve Correction Administration 6. Improve Departmental Administrative Capacity 7. Improve Communication and build relations with External Stakeholders 8. Improve Information and Decision Management support

  20. HIGH LEVEL ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

  21. DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMES • Administration • Provide the administrative, management, financial, ICT, service evaluation, investigative and support functions required for all service delivery by the department and in support of the functions of the Ministry.

  22. DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMES 2. Corrections Provide needs-based correctional sentenced plans for all persons who have been sentenced to community correctional supervision or remand in a correctional centre and paroled prisoners, based on the assessed security risk and criminal profile of individuals, focussing on the individual’s specific offence, and targeting all elements associated with the offending behaviour/s.

  23. DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMES 3. Security Maintain the well being of incarcerated persons by providing for physical fitness, nutrition, social links with families and society, spiritual and moral well-being, psychological well-being and health care, based on their needs.

  24. DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMES 4. Facilities Provide, maintain and upgrade the physical infrastructure required for those legally entrusted to the Department’s care, as well as what is required by personnel; aiming at ensuring that facilities are available to meet the Department’s rehabilitation responsibilities and objectives

  25. DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMES 5. After Care Provide services to persons completing their sentences, to facilitate their effective reintegration into their communities and to promote general social acceptance of offenders.

  26. DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMES 6. Development Provide opportunities for social development and the development of social conscience including vocational and technical training, recreation, sports, and education opportunities, to promote the development of personal and social competencies that will enable incarcerated offenders to reintegrate into communities as productive citizens

  27. DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMES 7. Care Maintain the well being of incarcerated persons by providing for physical fitness, nutrition, social links with families and society, spiritual and moral well-being, psychological well-being and health care, based on their needs.

  28. CHALLENGES FACING DCS • IMPROVED HUMAN RESOURCE CAPACITY • Retraining of members • Recruitment of appropriate human resources & orientation • Compliance with policy & corruption prevention • Corruption investigation and sanction • Management of employee stress and morale

  29. CHALLENGES FACING DCS IMPROVED MANAGEMENT OF ACCOMODATION • Management of overcrowding • Improved operational cooperation within IJS re case backlogs, bail, appropriate sentencing • Improved ATD administration and inmate tracking • Migration plan of ATDs to Ministry of Justice responsibility • Planning for accommodation impact of minimum sentences • Transfer of children to secure care faciltieis and implementation of Child Justice Bill

  30. CHALLENGES FACING DCS • CORRECTION, DEVELOPMENT AND CARE SERVICES • Rehabilitation – correction and development - of prisoners • Community involvement - Social Restoration and Reintegration • Needs of special categories of offenders • Management of HIV/AIDS and other health issues

  31. CHALLENGES FACING DCS IMPROVED MANAGEMENT OF SECURITY AND FACILITIES • Reduction of escapes • Improvement of safety of offenders • Renovation of DCS facilities to be appropriate for rehabilitation services • Appropriate use of Technology – inmate tracking, security equipment • Transformation of institutional “Prison Culture” and prison violence

  32. CHALLENGES FACING DCS IMPROVED ADMINISTRATION AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY • Managing information as a strategic resource • Effective, efficient and systematic approach to creating, using and preserving information • Integrated information management system to support all DCS processes • Compliance with policy and procedures • Ensuring evidence-based (research driven) programmes and interventions

  33. THANK YOU

  34. Correctional Services values your role in breaking the cycle of crime: in making rehabilitation work. Thank you Together we can strengthen the social compact against crime, for a better life.

More Related