Pretoria – Victims of crime will now be able to participate in the parole hearings of their convicted perpetrators, thanks to a new audio visual technology system launched by the Department of Correctional Services.
Launching the new system in Pretoria on Wednesday, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha said the innovation enables victims to fully participate in the parole hearings regardless of where they are taking place.
The video conferencing system eliminates barriers like communities and victims of crime not being able to participate in parole hearings because of long distances.
“The Audio Visual System will reduce the problem of costs incurred by the offended and their relatives in travelling in order to participate in the parole processes,” he said.
Victims and their families can register their interest to be involved in the parole process at their nearest Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB) offices.
“Although parole is at the tail end of the justice system, it can never be a true reflection of a fair process if the offended continue to be ignored,” the minister said.
During his budget vote speech in July, Minister Masutha announced that the department will launch a video-conferencing system in all 53 CSPB offices in South Africa.
According to the Minister, there are 157 476 persons in custody; 70 355 are under the system of Community Corrections. Of the 70 355 in community corrections, 51 379 are parolees and 17 399 are probationers and 1 577 are awaiting trial.
“We presently have 53 Correctional Supervision and Parole Boards throughout the country. Collectively, the Parole Boards, consider about 54 000 submissions for parole placements each year,” he said.
Minister Masutha said although progress has made since 2009 in mobilising the offended to participate in parole hearings of the CSPB, from just 108 to 1125 cases per year, this still represents less than five percent of hearings that result in parole placements of offenders which is around 25 000.
“We are pleased to announce that, indeed, the offended in South Africa are now able to go to their nearest CSPB offices and be linked to the actual parole board hearings.”
The Minister said in order to facilitate the involvement of complainants or the offended in Parole Board meetings, provision has been made in both Section 75 (4) of the Correctional Services Act of 1998, Act 111 of 1998 as amended, as well as Section 299A of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977, Act 51 of 1977, to regulate matters in this regard.
“As a department, we must continue to implement an offended-centred approach to corrections,” he said.
The funds used in the implementation of the system were taken from Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA). – SAnews.gov.za
