CSPRI makes submissions to Parliament on the annual reports of DCS and JICS

CSPRI has prepared submissions to the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services on the annual reports of the Department of Correctional Services and the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services. The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services will hear stakeholders on the annual reports of DCS and JICS on Wednesday 10 October at 14h.

The submission on the DCS Annual Report deals with human resources, staff training, children in prisons, discipline and turnstiles. CSPRI expresses concern about the persistence of some of the Department's problems. For reasons that are not always clear the same issues undermine performance in the Department without a solution in sight. CSPRI makes a number of recommendations as to how to address the concerns noted.

Regarding JICS, CSPRI draws the Portfolio Committee’s attention to the fact that since its establishment in 2000, JICS has not been the subject of a review process scrutinising whether it is indeed advancing prisoners’ rights in South Africa. CSPRI submits that continuous and regular review is necessary in order for state institutions to adapt to changing needs and improve efficiency and effectiveness. The submission discusses the independence of JICS and the current investigative regime and encourages JICS to include recommendations, based on national and international law and jurisprudence, whenever it reports concerns.

The full submissions are available on this website under CSPRI submissions and presentations.