An article appeared in WITBANK NEWS on Friday, December 5, written by Samantha Traill.
With reference to the article, I would like to provide the readers with information and insight as to why the Department of Correctional Services conducts searches when people visit our Correctional Centres.
Visits to Correctional Centres by family members and friends are part of the privileges offenders receive when they are convicted and sentenced for a specific period. Once a person is sentenced he/she is assessed based on the type of crime and sentence and allocated a specific category, i.e. minimum, medium or maximum sentence category. Each category prescribes the type of privileges an offender is entitled to, like receiving a certain number of visits per month from family members or friends.
For security purposes, and to allow time for rehabilitation, specific times and days are set aside for visitors. Sentenced offenders can only receive visitors during weekends and public holidays, while awaiting trial detainees can receive visitors on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 08:00 and 14:00.
Department of Correctional Services actively encourages family members, friends and members of the community to visit offenders since it sustains the ties with the community during the rehabilitation process, and it helps with subsequent social reintegration once an offender has served his sentence and is ready for release.
Visitors are allowed to bring certain articles to the offenders during visiting hours and these must be neatly packed and declared.
Offenders are allowed to receive money, which must be paid in at the reception office and it is then credited to the relevant offender’s account since inmates are not allowed to have actual cash in their possession, books and study material.
The Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998, as well as the B-Order, Chapter 4 serve as policy and guidelines for the safe custody of inmates and give guidance in respect of visits.
The following sections are especially important to note:
- Section 1.0 states that all visitors must be searched properly by means of detectors and a manual body search before being allowed into the centre. Furthermore, it states that offenders must be searched before they enter the visiting area, and they must be properly identified and searched before they are allowed to leave the area.
- Section 3.1 of the B-Order stated that before any visitor is allowed to leave a correctional facility he / she must be properly identified and searched.
- Section 3.2 stipulates that offenders must be positively identified, counted and allowed to leave the visiting area before any visitors are allowed to leave.
- Section 3.3 mandates that offenders must be thoroughly searched after a visit before they are allowed back into their sections or cells.
At Witbank Correctional Centre the community will be searched as directed by policy.
Two weeks ago an official was placed on suspension while an investigation is being conducted into allegations of smuggling contraband into the centre during visiting hours. It is alleged that the official did not search certain visitors as they were working hand-in-hand with the Correctional Official to smuggle contraband, money and other illegal items into the centre.
The Area Commissioner, Rev Sibanyoni, redeployed more experienced staff to work at the entrance gates where visitors will be searched, albeit with dignity and respect.
Annually the department launches Operation Vala during the December festive season to ensure the continued safe custody of inmates. This means that offenders’ movements in and around the Correctional Centres are more restricted from the end of November to middle January. Research has shown that escapes are more likely during this time, hence the tighter restrictions.
Searching of visitors is mandatory and a precaution to ensure the safety of people entering our facilities as well of the safety of the inmates and officials. Although the department does not cast aspersion on any member of the public, searching of visitors, especially female visitors, has in the past yielded contraband.
It could easily happen that a visitor smuggles a firearm into the centre that is later used in an escape where people may be injured or even killed. The same is true for smuggling of cell phones and drugs. In fact, any contraband allowed into the centres could have serious consequences to the safety of inmates, officials and the community.
In light of the above, it is important that all visitors are searched. The Department of Correctional Services acknowledges that submitting to searches is uncomfortable but we believe the safety of visitors, the inmates and the community outweighs a few minutes of discomfort and we try to conduct searching with as much dignity and respect as possible.
Rehabilitation is a societal responsibility and it starts with ensuring a safe custodial environment. The department therefore humbly requests the community and visitors to our facilities to support our efforts to inhibit smuggling when we search them before allowing them entrance to the centre and when they leave.
We also call on the public to please report all instances of corrupt activity so that we may address it immediately.
