PRESENTATION ON CORRECTIONAL MATTERS AMENDMENT BILL-2010 Clause by clause analysis

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS The Bill seeks to improve the administration of 3 key areas of corrections, namely: Strengthen the parole system in general; Provide for a new medical parole system; and Provide further for the management of remand detainees. 2

CLAUSE 1 Definitions Definition of inmate amended New definitions inserted: Remand detainee Remand detention facility Remand detention official Other body Specialist medical practitioner 3

CLAUSE 2 Amends section 3(2) of the Act Section 3 deals with the establishment functions and control of the Department Subsection (2) is amended to make provision for the management of remand detainees 4

CLAUSE 3 Amends section 5(1) and (2) of the Act Section 5 deals with the establishment of Correctional Centres Subsections (1) and (2) are amended to provide for the establishment of remand detention facilities Subsection (2)(b) is further amended to limit the period of detention in a police cell to 7 days 5

CLAUSES 4 AND 5 Clause 4: Amends section 10 (clothing and bedding provision) of the Act by the deletion of subsection (2) since it is provided for in clause 9 (new section 48). Clause 5: Amends section 17 (access to legal advice) of the Act: change in terminology 6

CLAUSE 6 Amends section 38 of the Act: Section 38 deals with the assessment of sentenced offenders upon admission It is proposed that an inmate should also be assessed to determine his or her restorative justice requirements And his or her vulnerability to sexual violence and exploitation 7

CLAUSE 7 Amends section 39 of the Act: Section 39 deals with the commencement, computation and termination of sentences Amends subsection (2) paragraph (a) by seeking to regulate the serving of any further sentence imposed on a habitual criminal in order to give effect to the order in Mans v Minister of Correctional Services [2008] JOL (W). 8

CLAUSE 7 (Cont.) Amends section 39(3) by the inclusion of a reference to absconding. Reference to absconding was previously omitted. 9

CLAUSE 8 Amends section 42 of the Act Section 42 deals with the powers, duties and functioning of the Case Management Committee In the main clause 8 amends the content of the report compiled by the CMC for submission to the CSPRB by: –Deleting subparagraph (v) – there is no difference in the way in which habitual criminals and other offenders are being assessed or considered for placement on parole. In all cases the factors for consideration are rehabilitation and risk and therefore this provision is no longer used. –Including additional criteria such as assessment results and sentence plan progress. 10

CLAUSE 8 (Cont.) – requiring each sentenced offender to obtain an identity document or foreign national to be recorded as such for security reasons. Persons without identity documents need to be identified in order to be brought to the attention of the Department of Home Affairs to determine whether their presence in the RSA is desirable or not in order to take decisions regarding, amongst others, deportation of such inmate upon expiry of sentence. 11

CLAUSE 9 Replaces Chapter V of the Act in order to provide for the more comprehensive management, safe custody and well-being of remand detainees (RD’s). New sections: Section 46: Spells out the principles of the regime applicable to RD’s. (existing wording of section 46) Section 47: Deals with the provision of food and drink to RD’s by visitors (wording mainly the same as in existing section 48). 12

CLAUSE 9 (Cont.) Section 48: Makes the wearing of a prescribed uniform (different from that of sentenced offenders) compulsory. This proposal is intended to bolster security and provide decent and humane clothing for destitute remand detainees. Section 49: Provides for access to information and intends to ensure proper record keeping. Sections 49A, 49B, 49C and 49D: These sections deal respectively with pregnant women, disabled/aged and mentally ill RD’s with specific reference to their physical and mental health and conditions of incarceration. 13

CLAUSE 9 (Cont.) Section 49E: Provides a procedure (modeled on section 63A of the CPA) for the referral of terminally ill or severely incapacitated RD’s to court. (The conditions set for qualification for such referral is broadly in line, with such changes as required by the context, with the new provision for medical parole as set out in section 79). Section 49F: Release of RD’s to SAPS for purpose of further investigation into charges other than those for which he or she is detained. This provision will ensure the administrative monitoring of such releases in future. Section 49G: Ensuring that matters involving RD’s detained for a period of 2 years or longer are brought to the attention of all role players for purposes of decision making (further detention or release under conditions appropriate to the case). 14

CLAUSES 10 AND 11 Clause 10 amends section 54 of the Act, which deals with day parole. –The Minister is included here since it was an omission not to have done so in amending the Act in 2008, by determining that it is the Minister who decides on the placement on parole of lifers. Clause 11 amends section 70 of the Act, which deals with non-compliance with conditions set for community corrections. –Amendment is proposed to cater for cases where offenders re-locate after being placed in the system of community corrections, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and costs. 15

CLAUSE 12 Amends section 73 of the Act. Section 73 of the Act provides the framework for parole calculations. Sections 48 and 49 of the 2008 Amendment Act intended to amend section 73 in order to incorporate an incarceration framework. These sections are now repealed (clause 19) and section 73 therefore needs to be amended to incorporate the terminology introduced by the 2008 Act and also to provide for the deletion of obsolete sentences e.g. Imprisonment for corrective training and prevention of crime. 16

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CLAUSE 13 Amends section 75 of the Act, which deals with the powers, functions and duties of the CSPB. –A further function i.e. that CSPB may decide on medical parole is added. It was an omission. –It clarifies the position that a decision of the CSPB is suspended pending a review of a decision by the CSPB. –It clarifies position that Minister may only cancel parole in instances where she or he granted it. –Stipulates that Review Board matters must be finalised within 4 months of referral. 18

CLAUSE 14: NEW MEDICAL PAROLE SYSTEM Section 79 of the Act currently limits the granting of medical parole to sentenced offenders who are in the final phase of a terminal illness. Medical practitioners are reluctant to recommend placement on medical parole within this limited definition. Reluctance can also be attributed to media and societal pressures associated with such recommendations, since 60% of inmates do not pass away after placement on medical parole. 19

MEDICAL PAROLE CONT. As a result many seriously ill or similarly incapacitated inmates currently do not qualify for medical parole. The Department also records a high number of natural deaths each year. This scenario puts serious pressure on already limited financial and human resources required to meet the health care needs of inmates. 20

MEDICAL PAROLE CONT. The Bill introduces a new medical parole system, which aims to balance the medical condition of the inmate against the risk posed to society should such inmate be placed on medical parole. Three factors must be present to qualify for consideration for placement on medical parole: 1) Inmate should suffer from a terminal illness or be rendered physically incapacitated as a result of injury, disease or illness so as to severely limit daily activity or inmate self-care; and 21

MEDICAL PAROLE CONT. 2) the risk of re-offending must be low; and 3) there must be appropriate arrangements for the inmate’s supervision, care and treatment upon release. Application: By medical practitioner or sentenced offender or person acting on his or her behalf Medical report identifying the condition Medical Advisory Board: To provide independent medical report to ensure oversight over the system 22

MEDICAL PAROLE CONT. Periodical medical examinations may take place (parole conditions may be amended if offender’s health improves) Medical parole is not to be cancelled simply because of a change in an offender’s medical condition. But, the usual provisions on the cancellation of parole are equally applicable here, such as the violation of the conditions of community corrections. 23

CLAUSES 15 AND 16 Clause 15: Amends section 90 of the Act, which deals with the powers, functions and duties of the Inspecting Judge –Amended to provide for oversight functions of the Inspecting Judge at remand detention facilities Clause 16: Inserts a new section 128A to address identity swap amongst RD’s –Creates an offence 24

CLAUSES 17 AND 18 Clause 17: Amends section 134 of the Act to introduce a range of issues relating to RD’s and medical advisory boards about which the Minister may make regulations. Clause 18: Provides for the amendment of the table of contents to incorporate the new sections. 25

CLAUSES 19 AND 20 Clauses 19 and 20 repeal all provisions referring to the development of an incarceration framework. Incarceration framework not workable for the following reasons: a)The development of a third parole system in SA is highly undesirable and unworkable; b) Questions raised as to the legal standing of the process set out for the adoption of the proposed incarceration framework; and c) No version of an incarceration framework could practically achieve the desired outcomes stipulated. 26

CLAUSE 21 Sets out the short title and commencement date 27

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