Progress: Implementation of Correctional Supervision and
Parole Board Grootvlei
Building a caring correctional system that truly belongs to all
Presentation to Port Folio Committee
5 September 2006
INTRODUCTION
Seipati Dichabe
Chairperson of Correctional Supervision and Parole Board
A divorced mother of three, a girl (pharmacist), boy (engineer) boy
(economist)
Qualification; MA in Neuro-Linguistic from the University of Ottawa
(Canada)
Hobbies: Music (Gospel Opera) , Writing, ( School Language books)
Boards serving: SA Geographical Names Council (Deputy-Chairperson)
Free State Provincial Geographical Names Committee (Chairperson)
Setswana Lexicography Board (Member)
LOCATION OF PAROLE BOARD
Groenpunt
Grootvlei
AREA THE BOARD SERVE
CSPB GROOTVLEI
Grootvlei Medium A & B
Mangaung (GSL)
Brandfort
Boshof
Ladybrand
Wepener
Winburg
POPULATION OF SENTENCED
OFFENDERS SERVED
Grootvlei Med A & B
Mangaung (GSL)
Brandfort
965
2929
198
Boshof
76
Ladybrand
49
Wepener
67
Winburg
144
Total
4428
Composition of the Board
•
•
•
•
CHAIRPERSON:
DEP CHAIR:
SECRETARY:
TWO CLERKS:
• TWO COMM MEMBERS:
S DICHABE
VACANT
G G NAMANE
C KOTZE
M M METSING
VACANT
(Interim Members:
M D Pahlane and
LM Padi)
Composition of the Board (Continue)
• Deputy Chairperson: Full time posts to be filled at
ASD level posts have been advertised, currently
occupied by a DCS member.
• Both community members are on a three monthly
contract appointments the initially appointed
members both resigned. (M D Pahlane and L M Padi:
Interim Members).
• The members of the SAPA and DOJ have not yet
been appointed to the board.
OPERATIONS
 CASE LOAD PER MONTH THE PAST YEAR:
 TOTAL FOR THE PAST YEAR :
 NUMBER PLACED ON:
* Parole:
* Day Parole:
* Correctional Supervision:
* Medical Parole:
* SED:
* Further Profile:

155
1868
568
18
61
0
51
1150
Special Remission:
16
- Possession of dangerous weapon: 4 (4 x 3 months)
- Possession of drugs:
- Theft cell phones:
- Negligence with keys:
- Good performance:
6 (6 x 2 months)
3 (3 x 1 month)
2 (2 x 2 months)
1 (1 x 3 months)
PROCEDURES THAT THE BOARD FOLLOWS
• Preparation for the hearing
*
*
*
*
Submission of G326 by CMC
Ensures that calculations of dates are correct
Compilation of agenda
Ensures that notices of sittings are send 14 days
before sitting to Offender, Offender
Representative ( If indicated)
Victim, Victim Representative (If present) All
Board members
PROCEDURES THAT THE BOARD FOLLOWS
(Continue)
 During the parole hearing
*
*
*
*
Role of representatives are explained
Ensures that all sittings constitute a quorum
Consult with other CSPB’s in cases of co-accused
Each offender’s case must be treated according to its own
merit
* Questions addressed during the sitting are based on info
from G326
* The chairperson allows members to vote for placement of
non placement of offender.
INFORMATION RELEVANT FOR DECISIONS
TAKEN
–
–
–
–
–
–
Each offender must be considered individually on own merit.
Whether the offender has undergone rehabilitation and
developmental programs
Type of crime is taken into consideration especially age of
victims in rape related crimes.
Value and mass of drugs is taken into consideration.
Remarks of the presiding magistrate play an important role.
Consistency must be practiced in similar cases
Offender’s historical criminal background
–
–
General behaviour of the offender whilst incarcerated
Information provided by both victim and offender and their
–
representatives.
- Positive support system
ROLES OF CMC. OFFENDER AND VICTIM
• CMC:
- Must ensure that all relevant information is provided
in the G326
- Provide recommendations for placement/non
placement of offender
- Provide condition for the parolee during the parole
period
- Ensure that all documentation are included in the
report (G326)
- Prepare document for special remission of offender
for the CSPB.
ROLES OF CMC. OFFENDER AND VICTIM (Continue)
• OFFENDER:
- To arrange for a representative for the hearing
- Must be informed by the CMC about its
recommendations forwarded to CSPB and must sign
to acknowledge.
- The offender must be provided with a chance to
provide information to the CSPB
- All decision taken by CSPB must be forwarded to the
offender
- The offender may request through the HCC to forward
a review of
decision taken by CSPB to the Review Board.
ROLES OF CMC. OFFENDER AND VICTIM
(Continue)
• VICTIM:
- Must be allowed to provide a representative during the
hearing
- May be present at the hearing if he/she so wish
- Must be informed within 14 days about the date,
venue, and time of the hearing
- Must be informed about the decision of the CSPB
regarding the placement of offender on parole.
LESSONS LEARNED
• There has been a tendency of officials towards the
lack of eagerness to implement policies and the Act.
Through the quarterly meetings of all stakeholders
held, the awareness and education of officials to
implement policies and the Act has been positive.
• Most of the offenders placed on parole have skills but
lack knowledge on how to make use of these when
been placed out on parole. The establishment of
parolee skills and development centres to encourage
them to be entrepreneurs
• Due to the un-acceptance of and perception about
offenders in some communities resulted in recidivism.
The establishment of Restorative justice centres to
address the a standing conflict between the offender
and victim
LESSONS LEARNED (Continue)
• The community lack information related to the
incarceration of offenders. The appointment of
community members for the placement of offenders on
parole has assisted with the implementation of the White
paper on Corrections through Imbizos and public
awareness meetings.
• Establishment of offender support groups has been put
in place to assist with community re-integration process.
CHALLENGES
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–
–
–
–
–
–
–
-
Incomplete profiles reports G326 from CMC.
Lack of important documents such as SAP 62, Sentence
Remarks
Lack of contact details of victims
Vacant posts of SAPS and DOJ representatives
G326 profile report from private prisons
Incarceration of short term offenders at Mangaung Max prison
Lack of sentence plans for offenders especially at DCS centres
Programs offered not related to the crime of the offender.
Offenders been taken through Life skill programs despite the
type of crime committed. Professional officials feel that the
CSPB is interfering with their expertise and responsibilities.
Training of community members
CHALLENGES
– Offenders from communities outside the
jurisdiction of the CSPB
- Lack of acceptance and support for offenders from
family and communities
- Offenders having been incarcerated for a long
period with having undergone rehabilitation and/or
developmental programs
ADDRESSING OF CHALLANGES
• The CSPB has taken a stance to return back all incomplete
G 326
• This still creates a problem as the CSPB relies on information
provided by the offender during hearing
• In some cases where the offender knows the victim the
chairperson and the community members visit victims and
request them to provide written reports if they can not
personally attend hearings.
• The chairperson would request the SAPS of the community
where the offender comes from to try assist in tracing the
victims.
• A request has been made to the regional office to assist in
• correcting the information currently available on the private prison
systems
ADDRESSING OF CHALLENGES (C0ntinue)
– Request are made for transfer of these offenders to DCS centres
– This problem makes it difficult for the CSPB to make concise decisions
because the offender rehabilitation path is not implemented. This
however is not the case at private prisons. Implementation of the unit
management system has been enforced
– Recommended programs are still been requested by CSPB
from professionals
– The CSPB in consultation with Community corrections where
Offenders come from are addressing the problem
– Currently the CSPB has taken upon itself to liaise between families and
communities through the assistance of professionals.
– The enforcement of offender to be engaged in rehabilitation programs by
CSPB before decision on placement is considered.
Thank you
Building a caring correctional system that
truly belongs to all