Alternative forms of punishment needed to solve overcrowding – commissioner
The Polokwane Correctional Services held a Media Breakfast Behind Bars to inform the media of the progress they have made and the challenges they face.
POLOKWANE – The briefing took place last Wednesday and the Correctional Services took the opportunity to outline their plans to overcome their challenges.
The Acting Area Commissioner, Shebo Maserumule, stated that even though they currently have many positive rehabilitation programmes, one of the main struggles faced by the facility is overpopulation which leads to challenges in the rehabilitation programmes.
During the briefing, representatives from various media houses were allowed to enter the jail cells and see the conditions the offenders had to live in due to the overpopulation at the facility.
Video footage supplied
During the briefing, the media was also informed and shown some of the self-made weapons and drugs some of the offenders use to break the law while in the cells.
This highlighted the importance of the success of the rehabilitation programmes at the facility to give these offenders the opportunity to put their time and creativity to good use and create items conducive to their rehabilitation.
“The Polokwane Correctional Services is the only facility in Limpopo that accommodates family visits.
“The facility was built in 1963 and has seen hardly any upgrades to it’s infrastructure even though it’s population has grown significantly over the years due to the high levels of crime in the province and the subsequent arrests.
“One of the main areas which face extreme overcrowding is the facility where people are awaiting trial and those who have not been sentenced yet are being kept.We heavily rely on the police speeding up the finalising of cases but this is not always feasible which subsequently leads to the challenges we face,” Maserumule said.
He added that for those still awaiting sentencing, family visits are available daily, while those who have been sentenced can have family visits every weekend to enable the offenders to take part in rehabilitation programmes during the week.
He suggested that the Department of Justice look into alternative ways of punishing offenders to help relieve the overpopulation at the facility.
“Sentencing someone to do community service might offer a solution for people found guilty of minor or petty crimes instead of sentencing them to a few months in the correctional facility,” he explained.
