This submission to the South African Department of Justice and Constitutional Development deals with the Implementation Plans for the Victim’s Charter with a focus on the status of, and services to victims of torture, particularly in places of detention. It addresses redress for victims of torture and victim participation in parole board hearings.
The submission deals with the following: the strategic plan; real and nominal values in the budget; size of the prison population; privatisation; prison construction programme; low spending on the rehabilitation programmes; and community corrections.
This submission deals with the Department of Correctional Services Budget Vote 2007.
The submission was made in response to South Africa's initial report to CAT and focused on the criminalisation of torture and conditions (including allegations of torture) in South Africa's prisons.
The submission deals with three broad themes in relation to the budget and strategic plan, namely achievements of the DCS, areas of concern, and reporting.
The report provides a detailed analysis and evaluation of the Independent Prison Visitors (IPV) system of the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS). Recommendations focus on the appointment process of IPVs; the performance management system for IPVs; the quality of feed-back given to prisoners; the training of IPVs; Interaction between IPVs and DCS officials; additional IPVs or the allocation of more time; Interaction with prisoners and work outside mandated duties, and political oversight.
This report provides a detailed analysis of the legal mandate and powers of JICS. A number of recommendations are made to enhance its independence, efficiency and effectiveness.
