Special focus: Even lifers can get parole
Have you ever thought about what parole really means, or how it works?
In terms of legislation, all prisoners are eligible for parole, meaning they qualify to be considered.
According to Patrick Thobejane, spokesperson for the Boksburg Department of Corrections, illegibility does not mean automatic placement, but just a right to appear before the parole board to be assessed if they qualify.
“All cases qualify to appear in order to be assessed, even lifers; so murderers can be paroled if they qualify,” he says.
Every sentence imposed by the court has a minimum detention period.
“Upon reaching the minimum period, an offender qualifies to appear before the parole board for consideration to establish if they meet the detention period to be released on parole.
“These detention periods vary and the parole board does not determine these minimums; they are prescribed by the Criminal Procedure Act.”
While some parolees do commit crimes again, others do not; this is dependent on the circumstances they meet on the outside.
Before a prisoner can be paroled, a report is compiled by the Case Management Committee containing various documents.
These include:
*Certification and calculation of sentence dates.
* Copies of the warrants.
* Copies of the reports from various professionals.
* Reports on behaviour.
* Reports on progress and development.
* Academic progress.
* Assessment of risk.
* Confirmation of a support system.
“The parole board will consider all the facts placed before them.”
Thobejane says that it is a myth that an offender can be released on parole because of his good behaviour.
“This is not true; behaviour is just one of the facts for consideration, but cannot be the sole criteria for consideration.”
