CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ACT, 1998 - PROPOSED AMENDMENTS

1. Clause 1 - section 1: The definitions of 'sentenced offender' and 'unsentenced offender'.

'Sentenced offender' - The word 'sentenced' should be added to the definition of 'offender'. In other words the definition remains as it is but we just add the word 'sentenced' before 'offender'.

'Unsentenced offender' The words "or correctional supervision" should be added at the end of the definition of 'unsentenced offender'.

2. Clause 7(b) - section 7(2)(a) by virtue of the above definitions then the amendment will read as follows "Sentenced offenders must be kept separate from other inmates."

3. Clause 7(b) - section 7(2)(f) is also corrected / amended to read as follows "Where there is danger of inmates who are awaiting trial or sentenced defeating the ends of justice by their association with each other the National Commissioner must detain them apart.

4. Clause 13(a) - section 13(7): the words 'inmates' to be substituted for 'sentenced offenders' since the rehabilitation programmes are intended for sentenced offenders.

5. Further in the same clause, Clause 13(a) - section 13(7) - addition of subsection (7)(b) to read as follows, "Such organisations have to be registered and members thereof be screened by the National Commissioner before they can be allowed to interact with sentenced offenders."

6. Clause 17 - section 17(4) corrected to read "Inmates awaiting trial
[detainees] or sentence[d] [offenders] must be provided with the opportunities to prepare their defence."

7. Clause 20 - section 20(1) to add at the end of the sentence o "... until such time that the child can be appropriately placed taking into consideration the best interest of the child.

8. Clause 24(d) - section 24(5) The addition of subsection 24(8) in the Bill to be removed and taken to clause (d) of the principal Act. This basically means that the new subsection 24(8) becomes section 25(5)(d). The Department's submission is that the new subsection 22(5)(d) should read as follows "In the case of serious or repeated infringements the inmate may be segregated in order to undergo specific programmes aimed correcting his or her behaviour with a loss of gratuity and a restriction of amenities as contemplated in paragraphs (b) and (c).


9. Clause 25 - section 25 to be deleted because it is a repetition as it is covered in section 30(1)(b). the rights of the offender will still be protected in that all cases have to be reported to the Inspecting Judge, and if the offender wishes to appeal the decision subsection (7) allows the Inspecting Judge who will confirm or dismiss the appeal.

The concept of solitary confinement is removed from the Act in order to be in line with the White Paper

10. Clause 32 - section 32(2) an addition of subsection (6) which will read as follows "All instances of use of force in terms of subsection (2) & (3) the Head of Correctional Centre must report the matter to the Inspecting Judge.

11. Clause 35(b) - section 37(1A)(e) the word "sentence" has been mistakenly omitted between correctional and plan. In other words the subsection should read "needs-driven programmes in a structured day and correctional sentence plan;"

12. Clause 38 - section 40( 1 )(b) the Department would like to remove the word "market-related" and remain with "skills".

13. Clause 39 - section 41 (2)(a): The word "sentenced" to be inserted before 'offender', and the word "may" to be changed to "must" and therefore section will read thus "Sentenced offenders who are illiterate or children [may] must be compelled to take part in educational programmes offered in terms of subsection (1)."

14. Clauses to be omitted are the following:

[a] Clause 47(b) - section 52(2)(aA) about the placing offender under house arrest. The reason for the omission is that it is a duplication as this is provided for in section 52(1)(a) of the principal Act (and further conditions may be imposed with this condition).

[b] Clause 24(d) - section 24(d) to be omitted from the Bill and to read as follows, "By the deletion in subsection (5) of paragraph (d).

[c] Clause 25 - section 25 to be omitted from the Bill and the new clause to read" By the deletion of section 25 of the principal Act.

[d] Clause 38 - section 40(1)(b) the Department would like to remove the word "market-related" and remain with "skills".

15. Clause 40 - section 42(2)(d)(vi): The word prisoner to be replaced with 'sentenced offender'. In other words the subsection will read "the possible replacement of such [prisoner] sentenced offender under correctional supervision.. . ."

16. Clause 61 - section 77: The word 'inmate' to be replaced by 'sentenced offender.

17. Clauses 68 to 76 - sections 85 to 93 relating to the Judicial Inspectorate the following submissions are being made:

17.1 Clause 68 - Chapter IX which is the heading. The submission is that the amendment which reads as follows in the Bill "[The Judicial Inspectorate] Office of the Inspector-General for Corrections should be omitted and be substituted to read "Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services.

17.2 Clause 69 - section 85 to be omitted except for the heading to read as follows "Establishment of the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services".

In other words the provisions of this section will remain as they are except for the name which will now read Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services.

Throughout the Act reference to the Judicial Inspectorate will be changed to Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services.

17.3 Clause 70 - section 86 the Department is withdrawing the amendments made herein. Therefore the provisions of this section will remain as they are in the principal Act.

17.4 Clause 71 - section 87 will remain as is in the Bill, i.e. section 87 of the principal Act is hereby repealed. This relates to the appointment of Assistants by the Inspecting Judge and will be dealt with in clause 73 - section 89.

17.5 Clause 72 - section 88 to be omitted from the Bill. In other words the Department is not changing the provisions of section 88 as it stands in the principal Act. This section deals with conditions of service of retired judges.

17.6 Clause 73 - section 89 the Department is not withdrawing the amendments of this section. However, the submission is that the amendments should read as follows:

17.6.1 The heading [Inspectors and staff] Appointment of staff and Assistants

17.6.2 Section 89 1 The staff complement of the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services consists of:

(a) A suitably qualified and experienced person as Chief Executive Officer, appointed by the Inspecting Judge or seconded from the Public Service, as contemplated in paragraph (d), for the purpose of assisting the Inspecting Judge in the performance of all financial, administrative and clerical functions pertaining to the Office of the Inspecting Judge.

(b) Such staff seconded from the Public Service, as contemplated in paragraph (d) as may be necessary to enable the Inspecting Judge to perform his or her functions.

(c) The Inspecting Judge may, in the performance of the functions contemplated in paragraphs (a) and (b), at his or her request be assisted by officers in the public service seconded to the service of the Inspecting Judge in terms of any law regulating such secondment.

(d) The Chief Executive Officer referred to in paragraph (a) shall subject to the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 81 of 1999)­

(i) be charged with the responsibility of accounting for money received or paid out for or account of the Office of the Inspecting Judge;

(ii) cause the necessary accounting and other related records to be kept; and

(iii) may exercise such powers and shall perform such duties as the Inspecting Judge may from time to time confer upon him or her and shall in respect thereof be accountable to the Accounting Officer of the Department.

17.6.3 Section 89(2)(a) Assistants may be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer on request of the Inspecting Judge as and when such persons are required to assist the Inspecting Judge with legal, medical, penological or any other expertise. Such persons to be appointed for a fixed period or until the completion of a specific task.

17.6.4 Section 89(2)(b) The remuneration of such Assistants will be dealt with in terms of public service regulations.

17.6.5 Assistants will perform such functions as authorised and directed by the Inspecting Judge.

17.7 (i) Clause 74 - section 90(7) the amendment should remain as is in the Bill. In other words the subsection should be deleted. The reason for the deletion is that the Inspecting Judge does not have a staff to which he or she can delegate but can authorise the functions to the staff appointed in terms of section 89 (1) (b) in the Bill.

(ii) Section 90(8) the amendment should remain as is in the Bill because the provision is catered for in section 89 in the Bill.

15.4 Clause 75 - section 92 relating to the appointment of Independent Correctional Centre Visitors remains as is in the Bill, except for the correction of the spelling of the word "Independent" which is spelt with an "a".

15.5 Clause 76 - section 93 the amendment remains as is in the Bill, i.e. subsection (8) dealing with the remuneration of Independent Correctional Centre Visitors is deleted since their remuneration will be dealt with in terms of the public service regulations.