'Parole crimes' in spotlight
2003-12-02 20:11
Cape Town - The alleged killers in two recent murder cases were either under correctional supervision or on parole at the time of the crime.
One of three suspects arrested in connection with the murder of an elderly couple and their daughter at a Free State guesthouse at the weekend, was under correctional supervision. The other two were aged 16 and 17.
Limpopo police said on Tuesday a suspect arrested for the murder of Rina du Plessis of Tom Burke farm was under correctional supervision. His co-accused was on parole.
This raises the question about the suitability, or desirability, of parole and correctional supervision as a sentence for crime.
Eddie Johnson, provincial communications officer for correctional services in the Western Cape, told News24 how the process worked.
Johnson said parole kicked in after a prisoner had served a certain portion of his sentence.
The time a prisoner had to serve depended on several aspects, such as the seriousness of the crime.
Depending on his behaviour and rehabilitation profile, a prisoner might be considered for parole.
Johnson said: "It is not an automatic process. A prisoner is not 'entitled' to parole unless he has proved he deserves it.
From the day a prisoner enters prison, his rehabilitation starts. He attends therapy sessions with social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and other specialists, depending on his needs.
Johnson said: "One must realise these guys come from a hopeless situation outside.
"Prison must do all it can to correct their behaviour so that they can return to normal citizenry."
Often a prisoner came in with no qualifications, and left with a formal trade or other qualification, or even a degree.
Certain conditions applied once a prisoner had been released on parole.
These conditions were generic, and not all of them applied to all prisoners.
Three missed calls and they're back inside
The most important condition was that a parolee must have a fixed address where parole officers and police could visit him regularly and at random.
If he was not at home, he would get a letter of warning, and must explain where he had been.
If parole officers did not find the prisoner at his address on three consecutive occasions, he would be taken back into custody.
Correctional supervision is mainly an alternative to imprisonment, and is decided by the courts.
Usually people convicted on less serious, non-violent crimes, came into consideration for correctional supervision. Sometimes a fine formed part of the sentence, sometimes a set time under correctional supervision sufficed.
"This is a sensitive issue, and it is problematic. Unfortunately, these 'bad guys', who get into trouble again, give correctional services a bad name.
"One never hears about the 'good guys' who go out and live normal lives."