This paper aims to establish what prisoners actually experience in prison and to make the public aware of what happens to those offenders whom society condemns to prison. In May 1996, Amanda Dissel visited Leeuwkop Maximum Prison and Modderbee Prison to talk to prisoners about their experiences in prison. The paper summaries her findings.
Between 19 and 21 September 1996, 133 delegates from 47 countries, including 40 African countries, met in Kampala, Uganda. The President of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, Ministers of State, Prison Commissioners, Judges and international, regional and national non-governmental organisations concerned with prison conditions all worked together to find common solutions to the problems facing African prisons. The three days of intensive deliberations produced the Kampala Declaration on Prison Conditions in Africa which was adopted by consensus at the closure of the conference. This paper provides a critical discussion of the declaration.
This paper seeks to examine why a military structure is inappropriate in a prison environment and why demilitarisation of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is necessary. Some of the important areas affected by demilitarisation are highlighted. It will be argued in this paper that a militarised correctional services is inappropriate for an institution which is established for the safe keeping and rehabilitation of offenders. It further looks at the implications of a militarised and demilitarised structure and culture on the Department.
The process of introducing a community policing philosophy in Gauteng has been an exciting one. The important facet of this process was the establishment of community police forums at police stations throughout the province. This document draws on the draft report on community policing in Gauteng with a view to formulating policies which will further enhance the process which has already been initiated or any other similar or related processes which could be set up in the province.
This paper discusses community policing as a concept, the legislative background to community policing in South Africa, as well as the role of civil society, the provincial government and local government in community policing. The paper argues that the implementation of community policing in South Africa has given rise to a set of new social and political relationships at all levels of society. Moreover, the social context in which community policing occurs has had a major impact on the nature of these relationships, particularly in regard to the role of civil society in the process of transforming societal institutions.
This presentation lists a number of challenges facing the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU). It covers POPCRU's relationship with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the union's attitude towards community policing and its relationship with other unions.