PRESENTATION TO THE JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND DISABLED PERSONS Department of Correctional Services 20 SEPTEMBER 2002

INTRODUCTION DCS has placed rehabilitation at the centre of all activities. The department views rehabilitation as a long term goal to crime prevention & enhancing its potential to curb re- offending and eliminate recidivism. The Department of Correctional Services has embarked on a re-engendering initiative which looks at departmental structures, procedures and systems and how these contribute or hinder service delivery and the provisioning of effective rehabilitation. Effective rehabilitation depends on intervention that is systematic, age appropriate and in line with the developmental stages of children and young adults. Overcrowding impacts negatively on service delivery and counters successful rehabilitation. Therefore, efforts are being made to address this problem, e.g. introduction of APOPS prisons, ‘ new generation ’ prisons, etc.

CONTENT OF PRESENTATION Rehabilitation of children and youth Intervention framework Programmes Policies Accommodation Inter-sectoral co-operation Initiatives and challenges Conclusion

REHABILITATION Development programmes are offered to all offenders, including children and young offenders Development programmes & services, i.e. educational, psychological, religious care, social work are provided, which aim at addressing offending behaviour and causal factors of crime. The active engagement of the community in the rehabilitation of young offenders will strengthen our partnership in their treatment and also expand the scope of rehabilitation and after care services.

INTERVENTION FRAMEWORK DCS adopted a model of intervention that provides a systematic framework for intervention in the rehabilitation of offenders, including youth The model is composed of a set of concepts, beliefs, values, and principles – which offers both an explanation of the causal factors of crime and guidelines on how these factors or situations can be changed.

PROCESS OF INTERVENTION The assessment of prisoners to determine the causal factors of crime as well as the specific needs of the individual. After assessment a correctional plan is developed in consultation with the young offender. The correctional plan is implemented and managed in a structured way, involving all members – “ every member is a rehabilitator ”. Part of the process is the continued evaluation and monitoring of the impact of intervention This process of intervention takes place from day of admission, throughout the period of incarceration and after release of the person back into the community

BENEFITS OF FRAMEWORK It provides a structure for analyzing complex and often highly emotional human problems and situations It organizes information, beliefs and assumptions into a meaningful whole. It provides a rationale for action and decision making It promotes a systematic, orderly and predictable approach to work with the young person; It creates a platform for multi-disciplinary approach in rehabilitating the young person; It enables DCS to evaluate, curb and keep track of offending behaviour.

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES In order to impact positively on the high level of illiteracy as well the lack of vocational and occupational skills in society, all prisoners have access to: -General Education and Training (GET) -Further Education and Training (FET) -Higher Education and Training (HET); and -Technical training programmes The above are provided for in a structured day programme Formal education programmes are offered in line with NQF and SAQA requirements enabling prisoners to receive the necessary recognition after release and strengthen opportunities for sustainable employment.

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES  Counselling services are offered by psychologists, social workers and religious workers to young offenders and probationers to: -assist them in dealing with the trauma of imprisonment, -enhance their social functioning, -improve their mental health and well-being, and -encourage spiritual upliftment.  Restorative Justice Approach: -The DCS has adopted the Restorative Justice Approach towards the rehabilitation of offenders. -Awareness raising campaigns to create a common understanding and buy-in of Restorative Justice principles are conducted in all provinces. -It is aimed at healing the relationship between the victim, offender and the community. -The principles of Restorative Justice are also applied to children.

SPECIAL PROJECTS The UNISA / SANLI (South African National Literacy Initiative) partnership targeting illiterate youth throughout SA, was extended to DCS. Approximately 473 bursaries were awarded to prisoners to study at UNISA as ABET Practitioners. Ultimately these prisoners will in turn train other prisoners in basic literacy. Readucate Trust, a non-profit NGO involved in educational and literacy training, trained 196 prisoners as instructors at 19 prisons in SA. The trained instructors are utilized to train other prisoners in reading, communication & life skills SABC Education Initiative: TV Programmes can be used as teaching aids to support classroom activities. Support material and teaching aids are offered free of charge by SABC Education. These programmes support formal schooling & universal access to knowledge, skills & values.

SPECIAL PROJECTS The President’s Award Programme forms part of rehabilitation for prisoners in DCS. The overall goal of the programme is to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of young offenders. Prisoners who are selected to participate in the programme receive awards after completion of the programme. During 2001, 100 young offenders received Gold awards. The project is also in the process to incorporate an HIV/AIDS awareness programme and to train personnel in implementing the education programme. The Department of Labour’s National Skills Fund annually allocates funds to DCS to facilitate training programmes to prisoners that are relevant and needs based. During 2001 academic year, adults and youth prisoners (male and female) were trained in different market –related and needs-based technical and entrepreneurial skills.

INFANTS POLICY The purpose is to provide sound, physical, social and mental care and development for the duration of the infant’s stay in Mother and Child Units for their healthy development. The key features of Mother and Child Units are:  Providing care within a physically safe environment for infants and mothers.  Offering counseling, guidance and training to improve parenting skills of mothers.  Provision of an out-door plan area. Currently, 13 Mother and Child units exist at Johannesburg, Pretoria, Heidelberg, Pollsmoor, Worcester, Kroonstad, East London, Port Elizabeth, Thohoyandou, Rustenburg, Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Nelspruit prisons. POLICIES

YOUTH POLICY This policy seeks to create opportunities for all the incarcerated youth to develop themselves in order to improve the quality of their lives and to prepare them for reintegration into the community. The key features of the policy are: Admission administration procedures. A multi-disciplinary approach to assessments and classification. Development programmes to address their individualised and age appropriate needs, taking into account their developmental stages and life tasks. Family and community involvement. Creation of conducive environment to rehabilitation. Development of human capacities dealing with young offenders. Provision of financial resources to address youth crime prevention and development. Implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the policy. POLICIES (continue)

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL CARE POLICIES The purpose of Health Care Policies is to ensure that all offenders, including children, youth and the disabled offenders have access to health and physical care programmes and services within the prison and those subject to community corrections. The Health policies include: a) Health Care Policy Provision of a comprehensive primary health care service accessible to all prisoners. Such services are provided including the child of a female prisoner, on a daily basis for 8 hours as well as after hours. Provision is also made for a prisoner who wishes to utilize personal private medical practitioner or private dentist at own cost. POLICIES (continue)

b)Policy on assaults and injuries Provides for the handling or administration of injuries/assaults including allegations of assaults/injuries during admission or thereafter in prison. This policy also includes sexually molested cases. c)Mental Health Policy This makes provision for access to mental health services to every prisoner. Services are rendered by a qualified psychiatric nurses or other health care professionals. Where such services are not available, the prisoner is transferred to a prison where such services exist. POLICIES (continue)

d) Nutrition The department has the responsibility to maintain the health and strength of those entrusted to its care by satisfying their nutritional needs, which is in line with the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). Ration scales are compiled in consultation with the National Department of Health, the South African National Defence Force and NGO’s for the evaluation of portion sizes and their nutritional value. There are approved ration scales in the department for the following categories of offenders: -Adult offenders-Pregnant and breastfeeding women -Children -Babies The medical doctor may request or prescribe that the above mentioned ration scales be amended depending on the need or type of illness an offender is suffering from. Cultural and religious diets are also provided for, on request. POLICIES (continue)

e) Personal Care Personal Care policy makes provision for all basic health needs, such as provision of clothing, toiletries and bedding of all offenders including a child of a female prisoner. Clothing: Prison clothing is provided to all sentenced offenders depending on climatic conditions of the particular season. Prison clothing is also provided to unsentenced prisoners who do not have proper clothing. Appropriate clothing is also provided to pregnant female offenders as well to babies. Toiletries Toiletry is provided to all prisoners (unsentenced and sentenced) at the expense of the State. Offenders can also purchase toiletries of their choice at own expense. Bedding Bedding is provided to all categories of prisoners, however female offenders can have their own choice of bedding at own expense. POLICIES (continue)

f)HIV/AIDS Policy The purpose of the policy is to provide strategic direction and guidance towards the impact of the HIV/AIDS on the Department. The policy focuses on: -prevention programmes -information, education and awareness programmes -voluntary counseling and testing -a condom strategy -care and support issues -treatment and research -occupational infection

g)Draft Policy for Prisoners with disabilities To describe the management of disabled prisoners in the Department of Correctional Services with regard to humane treatment of offenders with disability, to pursue the ideal of and maintain a working environment as well as the total handling of disabled offenders to ensure that there is high degree of care free from any form of discrimination. The key features of the Draft Policy are: -To ensure mainstreaming and integration of disability issues in Policies and Strategies of the Department. -To provide guidelines for management of prisoners with disabilities. -To ensure reasonable accommodation and access of prisoners with disabilities. POLICIES (continue)

ACCOMMODATION AND SEPARATION OF YOUNG OFFENDERS  Correctional Services Act, (Act 111 of 1998), Section 7, provides for separation of children from adult prisoners.  The Department of Correctional Services endorses and respects the right of every prisoner to be detained under conditions consistent with human dignity.  Children under the age of 18 years are separated from persons of 18 years and over.  Unsentenced children are kept separate from sentenced children.  Male children are kept separate from female children.

 There are currently thirteen (13) Youth Development Centres within the Department of Correctional Services.  Other young offenders are accommodated in sections of prisons, separate from adult offenders.  The focus in these facilities is placed on promotion of leadership qualities and the motivation of young offenders to participate in their maximum development whilst upholding sound discipline and co-operation between themselves, other offenders and staff.  As on 31 July 2002, there were 2157 unsentenced and 1803 sentenced children under 18 years of age in custody. ACCOMMODATION AND SEPARATION OF YOUNG OFFENDERS

In order to contribute to integrated services to South African children, Correctional Services forms part of the National Plan of Action for children in South Africa (NPA), in the Office on Child Rights within the Office of the Presidency. This is a body overseeing the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was ratified by South Africa on 16 June In this structure, state departments, NGO’s and civil society are represented to address the needs of children. Correctional Services forms part of the inter-departmental committee as led by Justice, to look into the removal of children from prison, which issue was discussed at the NPA meeting in August 2001, particularly regarding children in Westville prison. The department also forms part of the Child Justice Project. This inter- sectoral team deals with the implementation of the Child Justice Bill as future legislation for handling children in conflict with the law. The new system will emphasize early diversion and the restorative justice approach. INTERSECTORAL CO-OPERATION

Challenges facing South African Correctional Services are: Capacity to accommodate and to handle young offenders separately in suitable conditions Development of needs-based institutional and community corrections programmes, as well as re-integration programmes Development of minimum standards for the young offenders Monitoring and evaluation of policies. Operationalising Unit Management and Restorative Justice approaches Paradigm shift by officials towards a rehabilitative approach. Engendering the budget to meet the needs of children. INITIATIVES AND CHALLENGES

Following the unfortunate incidents of abuse of youth in SA prisons, the DCS implemented the following measures:  Comprehensive investigation into circumstances that led to these incidents;  Detraumatisation counseling of affected youth at various prisons;  Sharpened security measures and access control in prisons ; and  Re-skilling and orientation of members on policy issues, developmental needs of children, identifying signs of abuse and offering support to abused youth. INITIATIVES AND CHALLENGES

CONCLUSION Functional Services as a Branch is charged with the responsibility of ensuring safe custody, humane treatment and rehabilitation of offenders. No rehabilitation or development strategies can be successfully implemented if it is not supported by an effective and professional safe custody service. Policies, procedures and strategies to ensure that prisoners are kept safe, reducing injuries, assaults and unnatural deaths amongst prisoners are continuously revised and refined. We are faced with both challenges and opportunities and have a chance to make rehabilitation responsive to the needs of the prisoners. It is important to emphasize that the prison environment is not a conducive place for the development of children. Efforts should be made to remove children from prison and be placed in places of safety.