Management of Remand Detainees in South Africa - DCS-Home
Management of Remand Detainees in South Africa - DCS-Home
Management of Remand Detainees in South Africa - DCS-Home
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detention management <strong>of</strong> RDs such as CPA, Mental Health Act and Correctional<br />
Services Act and its amendment.<br />
Anomalies between the legislation <strong>of</strong> <strong>DCS</strong> (Correctional Services Act 111 <strong>of</strong> 1998)<br />
and the White Paper on Corrections as well as between <strong>DCS</strong> legislation and<br />
regulations. Though the legislation has assigned the provisions for the rights <strong>of</strong> RDs<br />
to <strong>DCS</strong>, the bulk <strong>of</strong> its operational policies i.e., from regulations to policy procedures<br />
focus more on provisions for sentenced <strong>of</strong>fenders and less on RDs. The White Paper<br />
on Corrections as a Policy framework clearly articulated the programmes and<br />
services that must be provided to RDs; however the very same White Paper has<br />
acknowledged that the purpose <strong>of</strong> correctional services and the pr<strong>in</strong>ciples on which<br />
the <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>n legal system is based are compromised by the accommodation <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Remand</strong> <strong>Deta<strong>in</strong>ees</strong> <strong>in</strong> correctional centres. There is no commitment made for<br />
provisions <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> remand detention.<br />
Inadequate tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>in</strong> <strong>DCS</strong> who work <strong>in</strong> facilities that deta<strong>in</strong> RDs as most<br />
tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g provided <strong>in</strong> <strong>DCS</strong> tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g colleges focus on corrections and rehabilitation <strong>of</strong><br />
sentenced <strong>of</strong>fenders.<br />
Situational analysis conducted <strong>in</strong> 2007 revealed a lack <strong>of</strong> policy framework for<br />
development <strong>of</strong> operational policies <strong>in</strong> SCFs as such there was lack <strong>of</strong> uniformity <strong>in</strong><br />
policies developed by Heads <strong>of</strong> SCFs. S<strong>in</strong>ce then, a Blue pr<strong>in</strong>t document was<br />
developed <strong>in</strong> 2009 to address a wide range <strong>of</strong> issues such as lack <strong>of</strong> uniformity <strong>in</strong><br />
management <strong>of</strong> SCFs; disparities <strong>in</strong> provision <strong>of</strong> services by the prov<strong>in</strong>ces and lack <strong>of</strong><br />
a Service Delivery Model for the Child and Youth Care Centres.<br />
SAPS from time to time keeps a small number <strong>of</strong> RDs longer than seven days,<br />
however there are no provisions through policy or legislative framework that<br />
mandates SAPS to keep RDs.<br />
Lack <strong>of</strong> protocols to address cross-cutt<strong>in</strong>g functions among the <strong>in</strong>stitutions deta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
RDs.<br />
Inadequate provisions for RDs placed <strong>in</strong> <strong>DCS</strong> facilities for observations.<br />
Lack <strong>of</strong> provisions <strong>in</strong> <strong>DCS</strong> for RDs managed under the Extradition Act.<br />
1.4.4. Services and Programmes<br />
Lack <strong>of</strong> clarity on services to be provided by the detention <strong>in</strong>stitutions for RDs other<br />
than those stipulated <strong>in</strong> the constitutions as rights <strong>of</strong> accused;<br />
Lack <strong>of</strong> differentiation <strong>in</strong> responsibilities <strong>of</strong> personnel that render services to remand<br />
deta<strong>in</strong>ees and sentenced <strong>of</strong>fenders <strong>in</strong> <strong>DCS</strong>;<br />
Lack <strong>of</strong> specialized tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g for personnel work<strong>in</strong>g with RDs <strong>in</strong> <strong>DCS</strong>.<br />
Lack <strong>of</strong> role clarification with regard to transportation <strong>of</strong> RDs for forensic assessment<br />
and provision <strong>of</strong> emergency health services to RDs <strong>in</strong> court cells;<br />
Lack <strong>of</strong> uniformity <strong>in</strong> the provision <strong>of</strong> guard<strong>in</strong>g services for hospitalized RDs across<br />
prov<strong>in</strong>ces and <strong>DCS</strong> regions.<br />
Inadequate provision for management <strong>of</strong> RDs who are mentally ill and those RDs<br />
who are on chronic medication from arrest to detention <strong>in</strong> SCFs and <strong>DCS</strong>.<br />
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