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Mpho Mathabathe: Researcher Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services

Analysis of DCS Annual Report (2008/09). Mpho Mathabathe: Researcher Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services. Introduction. The purpose of this presentation is to assist the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services on its oversight over the Annual Report of DCS

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Mpho Mathabathe: Researcher Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services

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  1. Analysis of DCS Annual Report (2008/09) Mpho Mathabathe: Researcher Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services

  2. Introduction • The purpose of this presentation is to assist the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services on its oversight over the Annual Report of DCS • The presentation will identify technical problems with the Annual Report • Describe the extent to which the Department’s activities for 2008/09 were aligned to government’s priorities, especially those aligned to the 2008 State of the Nation Address • Summarize and analyze the extent to which DCS achieved its targets set for 2008/09 per programme and identify some concerns and raise questions around the performance of the Department

  3. Technical Aspect • Over the years significant improvements were registered in DCS Annual Reports • However, this report is not as detailed as the previous one • Due to lack of details in the report, the extent to which the target has been achieved or not achieved requires the reader to use the Strategic Plan • Ideally one should be able to make an assessment on performance based only on the Annual Report itself

  4. Alignment with government policy and direction • Repeat offending • Implementation of Victims’ Charter • Revamping of the Criminal Justice System

  5. Key successes in 2008/09 • General decline in fraud, corruption and maladministration • Approval by Parliament of the Amendments to the Correctional Services Act, Act 111 of 1998 • Strengthening of security in correctional centers • Cabinet approval of the Branch on Remand Detention • Establishment of a project office to ensure that key projects are aligned to strategies and coordinated • Training of senior managers on leadership development • Training of middle managers on Management Development

  6. Key challenges in 2008/09 • Continued overcrowding of the correctional centers which impacts negatively on service delivery including three meals a day and implementation of 7 day establishment • Implementation of biometric security infrastructure continues to be a challenge especially since there was a budget cut • Lack of stability at senior management level as a result of resignation and suspension of other senior managers • The medical parole issue under the spotlight

  7. Composition of Inmates • At the end of March 2008 DCS had 165 837 offenders • At end of March 2009 there were 165 230 offenders, which is 607 less than previous year • 49 477 awaiting-trial offenders and 115 753 sentenced (end of March 2009) • 63 635 aggressive crime, 25 752 economic crimes, 18 368 sexual offences

  8. Composition of inmates(Cont..) • There is a notable decrease of awaiting trial offenders from 52 662 (in March 2008) to 49 477 (in March 2009) • Comparison between 2008/09 AR and 2007/08 AR shows that there is no significant improvement in the number of sentenced children • March 2008, there were 845 sentenced children and March 2009 there were 840 sentenced children

  9. Inmates population(Cont..) • 635 sentenced for aggressive crimes, 287 economic, and 125 sexual crimes • March 2009, 2597 female offenders incarcerated • 1219 for aggressive crimes, 936 for economic crimes and 244 for drug related crimes

  10. LESSONS FROM THE PAST Inmates population(Cont..) • Statistics shows that more people are becoming involved in aggressive crimes • Our society is becoming more violent

  11. Administration • Number of targets were MET • Slight decrease in number of women in Top Management from 52(07/08) to 49(08/09) • Number of policies submitted for approval but they take time to be approved • Target for vacancies(7%) NOT MET as a result of moratorium on filling of non-critical posts. Vacancy rate 10.5% (08/09) • Vacancy for Psychologist 68% (70.7% in 2007/08)

  12. Overcrowding Security • Target for escapes MET • 65 escapes (2008/09) compared to 79 (2007/08) • Target for unnatural death NOT MET • The report does not states how many death were recorded and the actual cause of death • Target for security infrastructure NOT MET. 66 Centres could not install access security controls as a result of non-compliance by service provider • In 2007/08 budget, additional R100 million was made available for 2008/09 onwards for biometric access control equipments. What happened to these funds?

  13. Integrated Justice System Corrections • Number of policies and procedures still waiting for approval • All COE’s and 51 other centres implement 3 meal a day and Unit Management • 146 393 offenders were involved in work. The AR does not indicate what type of work • Could not install Video postponement equipments as a result of the delay in identifying appropriate facilities.

  14. Care and Development Development • Number of targets were NOT MET • Target for Milk NOT MET (also in 2007/08). 5 947 779 lit against target of 6 469 800 lit • Target for Vegetables and Fruits NOT MET. 10 226 892 Kg against target of 15 510 000 Kg

  15. Social Reintegration Care • Number of targets were MET • Target for Social Work Met and is encouraging that 21 089 of offenders are from special categories. • Target for Psychological sessions was not MET (9 073 against target of 13 034)

  16. Facilities Social Reintegration • Victim involvement in Parole Boards and Parole Review policy procedure are implemented in the regions but many victims are not taking part in these hearings • The report continuously refers to Sec 276 of the Correctional Services Act but Correctional Services Act does not have Sec 276 (Pg 67)

  17. Prison Labour Facilities • Target was not set for new centres and upgrading of existing centres • Feasibility study project for new Head Office was re-registered with National Treasury. It is not clear why the project was re-registered. • No progress report with regard to procurement of four new centres

  18. Financials • Total allocation for 2008/09=R12.3 billion • Managed to spend 100% in each programme except security, social reintegration and facility • Number of virements from one programme to the other • Over spending of R483 million • Requested additional allocation(R310 m) from Treasury but treasury did not approve • Contrary to this, Treasury allocated R223.7 M

  19. Financial (Cont..) • DCS need to clarify what happened to R223.7 M allocated by Treasury since OSD was not implemented in 2008/09.

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