Dangerous awaiting-trial prisoners swapping identities with inmates wanted on lesser charges, and juvenile prisoners entering no-go areas in adult sections are some of the scenarios a pioneering correctional services programme intends to eliminate.
Following extensive research and testing at Durban medium A and Johannesburg medium A prisons, the Department of Correctional Services is expected to start a ”tagging system” among awaiting-trial prisoners at these prisons by the end of April.
”A lightweight, non-allergic rubber device, which looks like a watch, will be put on prisoners’ arms. The personal tracking device transmits a signal so that any given prisoner can be monitored at any given time,” said Eric Phenya, task team leader for the inmate tracking system, on Thursday.
Each device, which has a 10-year guarantee and a battery lifespan of five years, has its own unique number and leaves an ”audit trail” of all movements made by the inmate.
”We did have problems [during testing] with tampering, nothing is foolproof … But prisoners will realise that there are benefits to using the device as well,” said Phenya.
He said in the case of visits, prisoners could be presented to their next-of-kin immediately. Bail application turnaround times will improve as well as security.
”If someone is sexually or physically assaulted, we will know exactly who was around at the time of the assault.”
Phenya said the R28-million pilot project started in August 2003 with the design of the system, and involved testing 70 prisoners in Johannesburg and 40 in Durban.
Currently these two prisons have about 12 000 awaiting-trial prisoners incarcerated.
”We are now in the process of completing the actual installation. There are plans to roll out the system nationally, but this would depend on the budget, among other things,” he said.
Phenya said it was hoped that the new system would address three major objectives — alleviate chronic overcrowding in South African prisons; improve the turnaround time by presenting the correct person in court for the correct crime; and by fulfilling broader integrated justice objectives ”by not just managing the case, but managing the person”.
The imminent roll-out was welcomed by both the Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons (JIP), a statutory body monitoring prisons, and the Centre for Conflict Resolution.
”We are definitely in favour of tagging and support it 100%,” said Gideon Morris of the JIP.
He said that on December 31 2003 there were 185 632 prisoners in jail, of which 55 232 were awaiting trial.
”That means prisons were overpopulated by about 70 000, for which there is no infrastructure such as beds, showers and toilets,” he said, adding that 22 481 prisoners had been in jail for more than three months awaiting finalisation of their cases.
Morris said tagging was one of the ”big” ways of speeding up unheard cases in court.
The Centre for Conflict Resolution’s prison transformation project manager echoed Morris’s sentiments.
”In principle tagging is a positive move, especially if it helps with overcrowding and facilitates meaningful rehabilitation programmes,” said Stanley Henkeman. — Sapa