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Polity
Published: 23 Oct 2012
Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services – Quarterly report (October 2012)
The Judicial Inspectorate Quarterly Report for the period 01 April – 30 June 2012 articulates the activities within the three core programmes of the Judicial Inspectorate, namely: (1) Administration; (2) Complaints processing, monitoring, and investigations; and (3) Community Oversight and Stakeholder engagement.

Programme 1: Administration, introduces the key strategic shifts implemented by the Inspecting Judge and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). As highlighted in the report below, the new organizational structure is geared towards strengthening the Inspectorate system in order to focus on its core function of monitoring the oversight of the treatment of inmates and conditions within correctional facilities. The Human Resources and Development unit has achieved a 98% filled rate on the fixed establishment and has worked tirelessly to support the development of the Inspectorate’s human capacity during this period of organisational expansion.

The financial and supply chain management unit deals with the budget and assets of the Inspectorate. The Inspectorate was allocated a budget of R 29 693 000.00 for the 2012/2013 financial year, which signifies a R 8 402 000.00 increase in budget allocation from the previous financial year. The expenditure for the quarter amounted to R 6 430 414.67 which represents 21.66% of the current budget. Losses and damages reported during the quarter indicate damage to 2 state vehicles.

Programme 2: Complaints monitoring, inspections and investigations, highlights the activities of the Directorate: Legal Services (D: LS). Twenty-three (23) inspections were conducted for the period, and the findings thereof highlight mainly the shortage of professional staff, which hampers the rehabilitation and medical treatment of inmates, as well as the maintenance of the centres. During the period under review 6 investigations were conducted. Further detail of all inspections and investigations is captured in the schedules of inspections and investigations further in this report. D: LS received 219 new complaints for the quarter, which includes 78 received from external sources, i.e. organs of state, and 92 from inmates and their families. Complaints dealing with transfers (45), parole (30) and assaults by member on inmate (25) were most prevalent. A detailed schedule of assaults by member on inmate is included as a focus area. 10 deaths from unnatural causes were reported, and 149 natural deaths were reported during the quarter. As part of the Inspectorate’s monitoring, included in this report are the numbers of mandatory reports received by the Department of Correctional Services in respect of segregations, mechanical restraints, and the use of force.

Programme 3 provides a reflection on community oversight and stakeholder engagement, which is largely enacted by the Independent Correctional Centre Visitors (ICCVs) and through the Visitors’ Committees, and to a large extent, managed by the Directorate: management regions. The management regions experienced radical transformation and restructuring during the quarter under review, with 3 new regional offices established in Durban, Bloemfontein and George. The total post establishment of ICCVs has increased to 309 from 278 posts in the previous quarter. Sixty-six (66) ICCV performance audits were conducted during the quarter. There remains intensified monitoring of the management regions, and subsequently of the ICCVs’ implementation and quality, and of meeting the minimum standards of service delivery.

During the quarter, 82,751 interviews were conducted by ICCVs; a total number of 24,440 complaints deriving from ICCV interviews were recorded in the G 365; 14,818 private consultations were conducted with inmates, with 14,573 being successfully resolved; and 49 Unresolved Complaints forwarded to the Directorate: Legal Services. Further details regarding the levels of community involved is provided at the end of this report.