Electronic monitoring of offenders will result in saving for taxpayers

Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele recently introduced the electronic monitoring of offenders which he said will not only result in substantial savings for taxpayers, but will also effectively track offenders whereabout’s.

“Against a background of stubbornly high prison populations and rapidly developing technology, governments across the world are now reaching a critical point in the use of electronic monitoring as a means of reducing costs and improving the effectiveness of corrections,” he said.

He mentioned that it currently costs the taxpayer R9, 876-35 per month to incarcerate an inmate while the electronic monitoring is estimated to cost R3, 379 a month per offender, which is to a total of R6, 500, or 65, 79%, per offender every month.

The electronic monitoring is believed to provide the following benefits:

· Effective means of disrupting offending patterns;

· A cost-efficient option;

· Offenders flexibility to adapt curfews to the requirements of individual offender management programmes;

· Offenders get to spend sufficient time with their families and this assists greatly in their restoration and reintegration;

· Increases public protection from offenders released back into the community; and

· Has a positive impact on offender behaviour, whilst enabling offenders to maintain, or seek, employment or continue with educational studies.

“Alerts, or violations, reported to the control room are investigated, and responded to, immediately. A telephone call is also made to the offender to verify details of an alleged breach, and/or a visit to the offender’s residential address, by a locally based community corrections official, to verify information or take statements or inspect the equipment.,” reads a media release from the department of correctional services.

It also states that, South Africa have one of the highest prison populations compared to the rest of the world.

It states that out of 51,8 million citizens, the country have the highest rate of imprisonment in Africa.

On November 7 there were 154,89 inmates in custody, 112,121 sentenced offenders , 42 776 remand detainees.

On average, 15 to 20% of awaiting-trial detainees are in custody because they cannot afford bail.

“Overcrowding is the single most pressing concern facing correctional services around the world. It may be the consequence of lack of adequate correctional facilities’ infrastructure, or a result of over use of imprisonment in the penal system.,”.

Over use of imprisonment includes indiscriminate, and even uncalculated, use of pre-trial detention.