The number of juvenile offenders in prisons has increased from 4 093 in 2002 to 4 449 this year, according to the Department of Correctional Service’s annual report. This figure includes 221 14-year olds.
The report said there are currently 4 449 sentenced and unsentenced children in prisons throughout the country.
There were 2 654 unsentenced juveniles and 1 795 sentenced juveniles in custody on March 31 this year.
According to an age breakdown on the same day there were 221 14-year-olds; 523 15-year-olds; 1 398 16-year-olds; and 2 307 17-year-olds in prison.
The report listed 13 youth correctional centres in the country but stated young offenders were sometimes accommodated in sections of adult prisons.
The Department said there are 208 babies and children in detention with their mothers, up from 194 in 2002. There are 118 babies under one-year-old in prison with their mothers. There are a further 60 children under two-years-old, 19 between the ages of two and three; 10 between three and four and one over four-years-old. Female prisoners are only allowed to keep their babies with them until they reach the age of five.
However, the department does encourage mothers to place their children either in foster care or in a suitable home to enable them to grow up in a normal environment.
The report said while some prisoners use their time in jail plotting their escapes or revenge on those who imprisoned them, others make use of the available resources to better themselves.
Over 500 prisoners have benefited from a venture between the Department of Correctional Services and Unisa, offering them bursaries.
According to the department’s annual report, eight prisoners were awarded bursaries to complete their honours degrees in various fields and all eight passed in the 2002 academic year.
A further 252 were awarded bursaries for various diplomas, and 244 passed their courses — a 97% success rate.
A databank is also in the process of being created to assist probationers and parolees in finding employment through the internet. The report said prospective employees would also have access to the databank.
The programme would first be launched in Gauteng, before being rolled out in the other provinces.
Once the project is implemented the number of offenders who find employment would be reflected on the database. – Sapa