Department Of Correctional Services Research Articles

Examining the Learning Style Preferences of Offenders at the Johannesburg Female Correctional Centre, South Africa

This study examined the learning style preferences of offenders at the Johannesburg Female Correctional Centre, South Africa. Followed a quantitative approach and used cross-sectional survey design. Enu-meration sampling technique was applied due to small size of the pop-ulation (n = 571). Data were collected from 402 participants, yielding to response rate of 70.40%. A Kolb Learning Style Questionnaire was used to collect data. Kolb ‘s instrument can assess learning styles and provide a valuable framework for the design and management of learn-ing activities. The results show that many offenders strongly prefer di-verging/reflector learning style. This learning style influence the of-fenders’ learning experiences to a great extent. It is recommended that the South African Department of Correctional Services should consider providing customised training programmes to build the capacity of teachers/facilitators/learning designers so that they are able to ac-commodate the diverse learning styles of offenders during the classes and/or rehabilitation programmes.

The End of Public/Private Partnership Prisons in the Department of Correctional Services of South Africa

South Africa has two fully privatised prisons, each housing some 3,000 prisoners. Their history has been mired in controversy from the start, and this has not improved over a period of nearly 25 years. Recent events affecting the security and integrity of the two facilities provide a useful opportunity to reflect on these private prisons as well as wider issues regarding private sector involvement in the prison system. The intersection of politics, organised labour, private sector interests, and corruption have in all likelihood rung the death knell for private prisons in South Africa.

A qualitative inquiry: management of recidivism in South Africa

AbstractAt a high cost to the community and taxpayers, offenders frequently return to correctional facilities shortly after being released. In South Africa, the management of recidivism has not been researched extensively, and recidivism as a phenomenon has received scant attention. This study explores how the Department of Correctional Services in South Africa manages recidivism using the perspectives of staff and external stakeholders. A qualitative study was conducted with 19 Department of Correctional Services employees and ten external stakeholders. The findings postulate that South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services (1) lacks defined policy guidelines, processes, or structure for addressing recidivism; (2) suggests a gap in the system as departments work independently within the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS), which includes, among others, the Departments of Police, Home Affairs, Justice and Correctional Services; (3) recommends that the computer systems of the JCPS be integrated to manage recidivism, and the use of a criminal record number for the detection of recidivists; (4) identifies a need for the development of policy, policy procedures, and guidelines for managing repeat offending; and (5) a need for coherent research on the management of recidivism of offenders within the Department of Correctional Services in South Africa.

Gentle Justice Reduces Recidivism and Incarceration: Can South Africa Benefit from the Finnish Experience?

This is a study of how Finland, a Western democracy which has considerably reduced its rate of recidivism, could help South Africa achieve more effective crime control, despite vested interests (such as the prison-industrial-complex, which profits from the perpetuation of crime). This contribution also considers Braithwaite’s seminal distinction between stigmatising and integrative shaming cultures and how Finland, even though it has a stigmatising shaming culture, has achieved a recidivism rate of around 31% (with deincarceration at 53/100 000). This is much better than South Africa’s unacceptably high 86–94% (259/100 000). By using a conflict transformation theoretical lens, it is argued that this great accomplishment in Finland manifests as a result of a meaningful acknowledgement of offenders’ and ex-offenders’ basic human needs, thereby removing this primary source of human conflict. In conclusion, Finland’s criminal justice system is a good blueprint that South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services should seriously consider emulating.

The challenges of procurement process for the department of correctional services

This study aims to determine the procurement process challenges for improving the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). All the participants recruited by the researcher were not forced to participate or sign the consent form. The researcher considered only voluntary participation and the participants were requested to sign the POPI Act consent forms before conducting the face-to-face interview. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology to get a comprehensive and deeper understanding of the challenges and effects of the procurement process. Information was collected from the key informants using Face-to-face interviews; the key informants were possible suppliers, chief executors, executors, and directors. Managers specializing in the procurement field and potential suppliers were chosen as respondents to obtain sentiments toward the procurement process. The study established that (DCS) is one of the national departments faced with the challenges of improving the procurement process. Hence the case study focuses on procurement process challenges for the improvement of the DCS. The study concluded that most of the fruitless, wasteful and irregular, and unauthorized expenditures incurred in DCS are caused by a lack of availability of resources such as employment finances and a lack of technology due to resistance to change from the top management to the lower level.

Bed space management as a strategy for managing overcrowding in the corrections environment in South Africa

Overcrowding in the criminal justice system, in general, and corrections, in particular, is a phenomenon that generates inhumane conditions. The burden is felt by the Department of Correctional Services. The objective of this article is to explore the process of bed space creation and maintenance. The focus areas are calculation of bed spaces, exploration of factors that influence the availability of bed spaces, and the determination of the long-term effects of lack of bed space on inmates. The article encapsulates the minimum standards for inmate living spaces as determined by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and the United States of America. Furthermore, the article includes an analysis of specified regional occupancy and the challenges experienced in bed space management. A mixed method design was utilised and concurrent triangulation with a multistage purposeful random scheme was applied. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews and analysis of historical records. A parallel mixed analysis was conducted with integration during the interpretation and discussion of findings. The main finding was that the fluctuation in bed spaces has a direct influence on occupancy and overcrowding levels.

Managing curriculum policy implementation at correctional centres in selected South African Regions

In terms of section 29 (1) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, Act 108 of 1996, everyone has the right to a basic education, including adult basic education. Notably, education is a basic human right even for those in conflict with the law (offenders). This study is geared towards investigating management of curriculum policy implementation at Correctional Centres in North West (NW) and Gauteng (GP) regions in South Africa as Department of Correctional Services (DCS) geographical demarcations. It is therefore imperative for education managers in Correctional Centres to manage education curriculum effectively and efficiently in order to avert criminal behaviour and relieve socio-economic hardships that citizens might experience. The theoretical framework of this study, instructional leadership model would be engaged in order to foster the change required. Schools are more effective and efficient teaching and learning environment through instructional leadership (IS) as a critical aspect of school leadership. Instructional leaders should ensure that every student receives the highest quality instruction in line with the managing of curriculum policy implementation. The study seeks to outline the challenges faced by research participants towards management of curriculum policy implementation in Correctional Centres schools (CCS) and to identify possible solutions to those challenges. The anticipated possible outcome would be a development of a model towards the proper management of curriculum policy implementation strategy in correctional centres. For the purpose of conducting empirical research, the qualitative methodology will be used. Both educators and SMT’s should possess learning area matter knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and content knowledge. The DCS and DoE should train members of SMT’s on how to monitor, evaluate and support educators in terms of new teaching methodologies. . DCS and DoE must have a common understanding of how they would enhance training to successfully manage curriculum policy implementation process.

2020 Measures to Address Violence and Unrest in a Time of COVID-19

COVID-19 had a severe impact on the lives of South Africans. Despite lockdown measures, unrest and violence continued unabated. The South African Police Services’ crime statistics reveal that, in some instances, less violent crimes were committed. Inquiries into taxi, police, and defence force violence during lockdown were also conducted. The Khosa v Minister of Defence case is dealt with in more detail in this regard. Violent protests continued despite lockdown measures. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s assistance to victims of apartheid in relation to basic and higher education was increased. The Department of Correctional Services had to reassess its parole system to ensure that violent criminals released on parole do not commit additional crimes. Despite this, numerous prisoners were released to lessen the pressure on prisons in a time of COVID-19. The Constitutional Court also addressed the Judicial Inspectorate’s lack of resources to conduct its work properly. The establishment of a National Security Council and its functions is addressed. The Firearms Control Regulations’ amendments include provisions on the training and retraining of employees of official institutions in the handling of firearms. The note also discusses several cases in relation to the use of firearms. The provisions of the Victim Support Services Bill of 2019 published in 2020 are also investigated. The note also refers to lists of entities that the United Nationals Security Council identified in terms of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act. The note concludes that unrest and violence (institutionalised or not) still underpin the South African society. The COVID-19 lockdown revealed more of these transgressions and limitations within the systems of the police, defence force, and correctional services. This note focuses on the most important 2020 measures and is a continuation of the annual reporting in this regard.

Fetching water with a leaking container: Female offenders’ rehabilitation programme limitation, South Africa

Over the three decades, the democratic dispensation ushered in transformative constitutionalism which is an ideal model to anchor constitutionalism and respect for human rights in South Africa. Female offenders are the key informants of this study, as they are the end-users of the rehabilitation programmes that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) offers. A qualitative technique was used for this study. In-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 10 female ex-offenders, who have been enrolled in rehabilitative programmes were selected using purposive sampling to explore their experiences and or views. The findings of this study indicate that lack of offense-specific programmes s results in recidivism and offenders re-entering the correctional system to repeat the same programmes to meet their parole requirements. Furthermore, highlighted in the findings is the magnitude of the lack of understanding among most criminal justice professionals regarding the actual need for the programmes earmarked for female offenders. The risk factors of female offending identified within this study include poverty, anger, and drug use. Although the DCS has firm policy documents in place, implementing these has failed the offenders and negatively impacted recidivism rates.

EXPLORING THE PERCEPTIONS OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND ELDERLY PAROLEES OF POST-INCARCERATION SOCIAL WORK PROGRAMMES IN ETHEKWINI METROPOLITAN

This qualitative study explored the perceptions of correctional service providers and elderly parolees regarding post-incarceration social work programmes. Primary data were drawn from semi-structured interviews conducted with 15 (n=15) elderly parolees, three (n=3) social workers and two (n=2) correctional officials from South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services. The findings of this study indicated that correctional social work programmes often did not prioritise the unique needs of elderly parolees; the study findings also revealed the urgent need for developing social work programmes that cater exclusively to the needs of elderly parolees. Moreover, the study found the need for developing ongoing training programmes to strengthen reintegration services offered to the elderly cohort, and finally, the study also revealed that the increase in the number of elderly offenders being released on parole impacted negatively on the responsiveness of social work post-incarceration programmes. This article concludes by offering recommendations to the Department of Correctional Services and social workers working in community correctional centres. Keywords: community correctional centres, correctional service providers, elderly parolees, post-incarceration, reintegration services, social work programmes

Gender Equality in Human Resource Processes within the Department of Correctional Services, South Africa

The article discusses the human resource processes of the South African Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and assesses gender equality at all levels of management within the department. The article utilises the Mainstreaming Gender Equality (MGE) approach, known as gender mainstreaming to bring equal opportunities for both men and women in human resource development programmes within the DCS. A qualitative research approach was utilised to collect data. The article explores that there are challenges especially for women to advance their careers to senior management positions in the DCS. This is because of a lack of knowledge, compliance, and readiness to embrace gender transformation policies in the department. The article proposes policy recommendations to mainstream gender at institutional, departmental, and individual levels, and aims to contribute towards creating awareness to promote gender transformation in the public service (general context) and DCS (specific context).

Reintegrating released and rehabilitated offenders: A case of Windhoek Correctional Facility on Khomas Region, Namibia

National correctional services such as life and social skills aims to rehabilitate and integrate offenders into the communities where they came from with a purpose of balancing societies and enabling offenders to overcome economic, social and personal challenges that may come their way. Such programs have a great impact on society because education thereof denotes change. This study examines the experiences of ex-offenders after being released from lawful custody and sent back to their communities. Using a qualitative approach, designed with convenience and criteria sampling techniques, five (5) released and reintegrated offenders, rehabilitated through vocational education and training. Offenders felt that, families and communities showed rejections. Initial isolation and stigmatization from society was also noted as employers are often reluctant to hire former offenders. In some cases, the absence of stable housing allows an ex-offender to feel a routine in a safe environment. It is recommended that policy makers within the Department of Correctional Services in Windhoek, Namibia should generate and improve on existing policies to help released offenders obtain their self-esteem, confidence and self-respect. It is further recommended that social workers may educate families and societies about the support released offenders need. The Correctional facility should have a better release plan with community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations to make services available after release. Key words: Rehabilitation, integration, isolation, rejection, self-esteem, experiences.

Rehabilitation of Inmate Young Offenders and the Education system:Offenders’ Perspective in South Africa

Unemployment, lack of education and few opportunities are, but few of the factors that lead to young people in South Africa and elsewhere turning to crime. These young people face the law after being caught and they get incarcerated inthe correctional service centres. It seems that many of educational programmes aimed at rehabilitating young inmate offenders seem not being effective as some of these young inmate offenders become hardened criminals through institutionalization in correctional service centres. This paper thus, explored the views of inmate young offenders of the benefits of educational programmesthey derived while incarcerated in South Africa. The young inmate offenders‟ age ranged from 17 years to 27years, 5 females and8 males. A qualitative phenomenological research method was used with a sample of 6 inmate young offenders to describe young inmate offenders‟ views of benefits they derive from educational programmes in correctional centres. Based on the available and access to the participants a purposive sample was employed for this research study.An open-ended questionnaire instrument which contained a set of a variety of questions on benefits of educational programmes were completed by the research participants. Toconduct this study in line with ethical considerations, permission was given by the university‟s ethical committee and later the Department of Correctional Services allowed the study to be conducted in their correctional centres. Data that was thematically analysed discovered educational programmes offered and availed to inmate young offenders to be beneficial. The study showed that although formal education was offered,the educational programmes faced many other challenges which were also mentioned in other studies and even in this study the offenders pointed them out, e.g.lack of resources and shortage of staff.The study also revealed that the rehabilitation programme played a critical role inreducing gangformation and fights in the entire inmate community. The collaboration of the state, community, family members of the offenders, churches, traditional leaders and non-profit organisations is required in rehabilitation of the IYO.

An Exploration of Violent Behaviour of Young Ex-Offenders on the Cape Flats, South Africa: Suggestions for Youth Work Practice

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that contributed to violent behaviour among young ex-offenders, and the challenges that young ex-offenders faced when reintegrating into mainstream society on the Cape Flats in South Africa. The researchers used a qualitative approach grounded in phenomenology as the research design. The study population consisted of eight young ex-offenders on the Cape Flats who had served sentences in prison. Purposive sampling was used to select them for participation. The data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews and a phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the participants’ responses. Ethical considerations such as informed consent, privacy, voluntary participation, and confidentiality were given due attention in this study. The results of the study revealed that factors such as the lack of parental affection, peer pressure, the use of drugs, and domestic violence contributed to violent behaviour among young ex-offenders on the Cape Flats. The study concluded that, when returning to the community, young ex-offenders face challenges such as family and community mistrust and a lack of employment opportunities. The study recommends the involvement of all young ex-offenders in activities of the National Youth Service, fully supervised by the National Youth Development Agency and officials of the Department of Correctional Services for a certain period as part of youth work practice in South Africa.

WHEN MEN WEAR DREADLOCKS TO WORK Department of Correctional Services v POPCRU [2012] 2 BLLR 110 (LAC)

The inclusion of constitutional rights within the ambit of the employment relationship raises new tensions between the enforcement of an employee’s right to gender equality, religious and cultural freedoms and an employer’s right to engage in free economic activity. The employer, in seeking to increase its productivity and efficiency, may insist on standards of uniformity in the manner in which employees dress to work. The employee, on the other hand, might find the insistence of these norms or uniformities in conflictwith his/her right to equality and/or religious or cultural freedoms. In this case, the courts were faced with the task of reconciling these tensions between the Department of Correctional Services and some of its employees. This note looks at the manner in which the Labour Court ([2010] 10 BLLR 1067; (2010) 31 ILJ 2433 (LC) and Labour Appeal Court dealt with the issue.

Challenges Faced By Strategic Partners in Driving Extension Programme: Lessons Learnt From Madzivhandila Agricultural College of Limpopo Province, South Africa

ABSTRACT The section on strategic partners and extension and partnerships at Madzivhandila College of Agriculture aims to identify key areas that require college intervention and to offer appropriate joint intervention strategies by strategic partners and extension and partnerships in the college. The purpose of the study is to clarify the roles of strategic partners and the extension and partnerships section at Madzivhandila College of agriculture. In this study, the authors have adopted a textual analysis to establish the roles of strategic partnerships. It is out of these roles that a broader recommendation, which could be followed by further research to determine their authenticity could be conducted. The authors discussed how stakeholder analysis was conducted, stakeholder selection, relevant partners, terms of references, and challenges faced by strategic partnerships. The findings in this study revealed that there are more than five strategic partners Madzivhandila Agricultural College entered into with; Westfalia, South African Avocado Growers Association (SAAGA), UNIVEG KATOPE, Citrus Growers Association (CGA), Citrus Research International (CRI), Pioneer Hi-Bred RSA (Pty) Ltd, Department of Correctional Services, Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB). PANNAR seed, Makhado Specialised oil Extract enterprise, Ross Breeders Association, Hygro-tech, and SAGA. The study concludes by suggesting a workable solution as a recommendation between the strategic partners and the college.

An investigation into the South African correctional officers’ experiences of their work and the Employee Assistance Programme

The purpose of the study was to investigate South African correctional officer’s experiences of their work and Employee Assistance Programme and the meaning that they attach to it. A qualitative approach was utilised. Individual interviews were conducted with 20 participants utilising a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analysed through thematic analysis. Seven themes with various subthemes were derived from the data analysis. The findings suggest that correctional officers are confronted with various challenges daily. Officers revealed that their work and work environment had a negative impact on their physical and psychological health as well as their family life. Furthermore, officers reported that aspects of their well-being are neglected. Various coping mechanisms were utilised by correctional officers, which seems to act as a buffer against the negative effects of their stressful work and work environment. A variety of barriers that prevent officers from using the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) service at work were identified. Despite the barriers, correctional officers recognised the overall positive value of the EAP service in the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). They also appear to find meaning in their work. Some correctional officers derive great satisfaction from their job while others experience a sense of reward as a result of the role that they play in the rehabilitation of inmates.

The Role of Reading in Offender Rehabilitation and Reintegration into the Community in the Western Cape Metro, South Africa

Often after serving a complete sentence or being released on parole, offenders become recidivist. Reading can be used as an approach to advance social transformation of offenders for the purposes of rehabilitation and reintegration into society and thus reducing recidivism. This study provides a conceptual account of the role of reading in offender rehabilitation and reintegration into the community with the view to reduce recidivism. The study uses the reflections on the developments at the correctional facilities of the Department of Correctional Services in South Africa using the Western Cape as a case. It is revealed that book clubs in the correctional facilities of South Africa did not only inspire offenders to increase their participation in reading, but also encouraged correctional officials to ensure that book clubs are used as a rehabilitation vehicle. It is hoped that this study will inform policy shifts on the part of the Department of Correctional Services in South Africa on the role of reading in offender rehabilitation and reintegration into the community.

The Tenuous Link between Crime and Incarceration: Bosasa’s Public-private Partnership

Bosasa’s role in facilitating the fact that South Africa has one of the highest crime rates as well as one of the highest rates of recidivism in the world, is interrogated in this contribution. The article sets out—through the lens of a Marxist reading of crime in a capitalist society—to explain the phenomenon in terms of the existence of a Prison Industrial Complex (PIC). This was exposed in recent months by evidence at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, which revealed alarming levels of corruption at the Department of Correctional Services, as well as fraudulent collusion with its corporate partners. This strongly suggests the existence of a PIC; part of an avaricious “shadow state” referenced by recent literature on state capture in South Africa. It is contended that even though the Zondo Commission has not completed its hearings, sufficient evidence is available to argue the case that Bosasa, as part of a PIC, has aggravated our recidivism rates and distorted our understanding of crime. The article, drawing on comparative examples, suggests that the high recidivism rate in South Africa can at least partially be explained by a PIC which inclines the Department of Correctional Services—within the context of a stigmatising shaming culture based on incarceration as our dominant sentencing regime—to recycle prisoners for profit rather than to see them rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.

An Empirical Assessment of the Effectiveness of Offenders’ Rehabilitation Approach in South Africa: A Case Study of the Westville Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal

The South African Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has a constitutional mandate to provide rehabilitation programs that address offenders’ criminal conducts. The rehabilitation approach currently used to deliver this mandate is grounded on the needs-based model where dynamic factors associated with recidivism are systematically targeted in the treatment of offenders’ criminal behaviors. In this research, a qualitative research methodology was employed, and a case study research design was utilized. Purposeful non-probability sampling was utilized to recruit participants. Thirty inmates and 20 correctional center officials who met the inclusion criteria for the study were selected to participate. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data during the empirical investigation. The findings of this study demonstrated that the DCS’s mission is far from being accomplished due to its failure to implement rehabilitation programs. The research study, therefore, recommends that for the success of a rehabilitation approach in South Africa, a critical review of the strategy meant to achieve this goal is required.