DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES A A NESENGANI DATE 16 TH JULY 2015 INTRODUCTION Correctional Services Act number 111 of 1998 and its amendments states that the National Commissioner may allow community organizations Non Governmental Organization and religious denominations ID: 543217
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Slide1
PRESENTATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HALF WAY HOUSE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
A
A
NESENGANI
DATE:
16
TH
JULY 2015Slide2
INTRODUCTION
Correctional Services Act number 111, of 1998 and its amendments states that the National Commissioner may allow community organizations, Non Governmental Organization and religious denominations , or organizations to interact with sentenced offenders in order to facilitate the rehabilitation and integration of the offenders into the community Section 13 (7)(a
)
Chapter 13 of the White Paper
Slide3
INTRO CNTD
One of the conditions of offenders to be released on parole is that they must have a monitor able address and a support system. The address must be confirmed by a correctional official.
The then Minister mandated the Department to start a process of establishing half way houses.
Relationship are managed through Service Level Agreement. Slide4
PURPOSE
To enhance the utilization of halfway houses as an alternative to non custodial sentencing.
To invite the Non Profit Organization to participate in the process of halfway house.
Slide5
MANDATE
Constitution of South Africa
Correctional Services Act 111, 1998, section 16
Halfway house policy
White Paper on Corrections 2005 Slide6
DEFINITION
Halfway house
– Community based residential facilities for probationers and parolees without
monitorable
address or support system.
Support system-
This refers to next of kin or extended family and friends which constitute a conducive environment outside a correctional center for a parolee or probationer not to reoffend or return to the life of crime without any extra burden of abuse one to violate his condition or go back to the life of crime or reoffend.
NPO
- Non Profit Organization
Partnership
- A regulated relationship between the Department of Correctional Services and any organization that need to assist the Department in the rehabilitation of offenders. Slide7
DEFINITIONS
Parolee
is a person serving part of his or her sentence within the community.
Correctional
and Parole Supervision
serve as an alternative to imprisonment and are collectively referred to as Community Corrections.
Probationer
refers to a person who is serving a sentence of correctional supervision, and was sentenced by a court of law to correctional supervision or has been placed on correctional supervision by the Commissioner of Correctional Services or his/her delegateSlide8
MODEL
AND PRINCIPLES
OF
HALF WAY HOUSE
Dcs
explored on two option: to establish a halfway house owned by the
Dcs
or.
To
form partnership
Desk
top research was conducted and experiential visit was undertaken to international countries.
Halfway house shall not be an extension correctional centres
Parolees to be involved in structured programmes
PARTNERSHIP
WAS THE OPTION APPROVED Slide9
As part of this initiative, two options as to the optimal approach have been proposed, each relating to the degree of autonomy and control that DCS has in the running of the Halfway Houses
As such, Option 1, namely a partnership between DCS and NGO, is the recommended approach
Option 1
Option 2
Partnership with NGOs running Halfway Houses
Pro’s
Cons
Expertise already in place
International research and local experience suggests more effective integration and therefore success
Coordination within community itself by virtue of being NGOs
Family environment as opposed to institutional environment
Image of DCS linked to an entity which is not DCS
Small numbers
DCS-run Halfway Houses
Pro’s
Cons
Facilities under DCS control
Numbers
can be greater
No reliance on outside agencies
Potentially
not as effectiveNumbers are greater but facilities could be geographically limitedStaff maintain security attitude and institutional setup makes rehabilitation more difficultUniforms in community makes engagement more difficult
RecommendedSlide10
According to best practice, the application of the “8 Principles of Effective Intervention” in the halfway house system is critical to realise the greatest recidivism reductions
Source: “Best Practices Toolkit: Community Corrections and Evidence Based Principles and Practices”, Ohio Department of rehabilitation and Corrections, Feburary 2008
Enhancement of reintegration and rehabilitation
1
Assess Offender Needs
2
Design Responsivity into Programming
3
Develop Behaviour Management Plans
4
Deliver Treatment
with Cognitive-Based Strategies
5
Motivate & Shape Offender
Behaviours
6
Engender Community Support
7
Identify Outcomes and Measure Progress
8
Halfway houses should provide reintegration and rehabilitation through treatment of probationer and parolees
Assess criminogenic needs (dynamic risk factors)
of parolees using research based instruments, with the goal of programming to diminish needs
Programming should account for individual offender characteristics that interfere with or facilitate an offender’s ability and motivation to learn
Individual programming should occur in the context of a larger behaviour management plan developed for each offender, which includes the priority and sequence of treatment programmes, the means for measuring treatment gains and the goals for a crime-free lifestyle
Research indicates that cognitive behavioural treatments are more effective than any other form of correctional intervention because these treatment types address criminal thinking and behaviours in offenders
Programming should include structure or capacity for rewarding positive behaviour in addition to punishing negative behaviour
Offenders immediate family members and the social service agencies in the community - to which the offender will be returning – must be involved
All programmes should have identified outcomes and integrated methods for measuring progress towards objectives
8 Principles of Effective InterventionSlide11
Further research indicates that a successful halfway house initiative revolves around various fundamental principles, guided by international best practice
Fundamental Principles
Not Exhaustive
Leadership & Implementation
A strong network of support for the correctional programme is required, both within the facility and in the wider community
The programme leadership needs to be on the shop floor and involved in the day-to-day operations
Related structures – such as parole, court and state structures – need to support the correctional facility
There needs to be volunteer support from the community and surrounding neighborhood
1
Staff
Ongoing training in effective techniques and approaches in providing treatment is required
Quality of supervision, provision and the communication of ethical guidelines are critical
2
Offender Assessment
Fundamental to have a system of appropriate and effective risk assessment for actuarial risks and the needs of participating offenders, followed up by good case plans for individual offenders
Certain offender characteristics - such as marital status, language ability and reading level – contribute to the likelihood that an offender will return, or not, to criminal activity
Treatment programme personnel need to be able to accurately judge these risks and take the risks into account when devising a case plan for an individual
3
Treatment Components
The best treatment programmes follow a model that is based upon data-driven evidence of what works and what doesn’t
Follow-up is essential, as well as having a treatment model that incorporates appropriate rewards and appropriate consequences and then following up with those rewards or consequences
4
Source: “UC research points to best practices to reduce recidivism”; 11/07/2011
Quality Assurance
Good programmes monitor themselves and their participant and track their own recidivism rates
Such programmes debrief frequently to encourage learning
They conduct exit interviews of participants and continually reassess to make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to
5Slide12
The Halfway House initiative has emerged as a fundamental mechanism by which DCS can achieve some of its strategic objectives, for a variety of reasons
Provides monitorable address and support system and serves as a critical component of the correctional process
Studies have shown that halfway houses do not contribute to increased crime rates or to decreased property values
Assists in the re-integration of offenders back into the community – recidivism rates are low among offenders who are released back into the community graduallY
Success rates are good for offenders who are released back into the community through halfway houses
Even among offenders who do not successfully complete periods of conditional release, the majority of offenders fail because they violate a condition of the release
“Most criminals are more likely to become law abiding citizens if they participate in a programme
of gradual supervised release” –
Correctional Services of Canada
Benefits of Halfway Houses
Source: Halfway House: John Howard Society of AlbertaSlide13
THE ROLE OF HALF WAY HOUSES
It is a replacement of a family or a home within the community.
To cater for parolees and probationers without support system or
monitorable
address.
To enhance the process of successful reintegrating parolees and probationers
To act as a bridge between the correctional centre and the community for those who do not have support systems
To provide scheduled programmes that prepares parolees and probationers for employment. Slide14
ROLE OF HALFWAY HOUSE
To network through NPO s with various industries for employment.
To instil family values to parolees and probationers correctional centres.
To assist in enhancing moral regeneration to parolees as part of their preparation for successful reintegration
Slide15
ROLE OF DCS IN THE HALF WAY HOUSE
It is the custodian of policy guide to the establishment of partnership on half way house.
DCS identifies NPO s to partner with in the administration of Halfway house.
DCS pay a stipend to the NPO
Dcs
monitor and supervise parolees and probationers within the halfway house
Parolees and probationers are still under the system of community corrections.
Each probationer and parolee has a supervision official Slide16
ROLE OF DCS IN THE HALFWAY HOUSE
DCS monitor and evaluate the Non Profit Organisation and its programme.
DCS also has meetings with NPO running the halfway house one a month
Halfway houses are aligned to management areas
Referral of offenders is done by the Parole Board
Disciplinary hearings are conducted by DCS through
Comcorr
. Slide17
ROLE OF DCS IN THE HALFWAY HOUSE
DCS can terminate the partnership if the NPO is not operating according to the Service Level Agreement.
A liaison officer was appointed to be the
contact person for the DCS. Slide18
Role of CMCs, HCCs, Community Liaison and CSPBs
To play a supporting role to the stakeholders
CMCs, HCCs and CSPBs
Assist in terms of identifying suitable and eligible residents in conjunction with stakeholders
Ensure that proper classification is done for the residents of the halfway house
Assign residents to a monitoring official
Make recommendations regarding the placement of offenders on parole or correctional supervision and the conditions of such placementSlide19
Role of CMCs, HCCs, Community Liaison and CSPBs (cont)
Review offender profile
Review security classifications from time to time;
Update and assess the residents on monthly basis or when a need arises
Attend meetings on halfway house issues
Inform offenders of the contents of reports submitted to CSPB and afford residents the opportunity to submit written representations to CSPBSlide20
Role of CMCs, HCCs, Community Liaison and CSPBs (
cont
)
Community Liaison
Assist in creating an enabling environment where a human rights culture is upheld, reconciliation, forgiveness and healing are facilitated;
Residents are encouraged and assisted to discard negative values, adopt and develop positive ones which are acceptable to society.Slide21
CURRENT PROGRESS
Six NPO s were partnered with to establish Halfway houses in six regions
LMN 3 , Gauteng 1, Eastern 1, Western Cape 2
66 parolees and probationers were reintegrated into their community of origin
Mostly are permanently employed and shall not return to the life crime Slide22
CURRENT PROGRESS
Note that all parolees and probationers are under the system of
community correctionsSlide23
CONCLUSION
Partnership is a fundamental factor in
the successful
reintegration of offenders Slide24
THANK YOU
NDAA NDO LIVHUWA U FHIWA TSHIFHINGA