This year alone, more than 5 000 prison inmates were released on parole and over 2 000 are on probation in the Western Cape.
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Action Society Director Ian Cameron says the volume of cases has raised red flags, noting a shortage of parole officers to check on them. ‘This is part of a bigger problem, as there is a shortage of police staff to monitor parolees.’
He told News24 that some communities expressed fear when parolees were released.
‘In terms of the success rate of rehabilitation, community members have lost trust in the process and would make assumptions that the rehabilitation of parolees is not successful.’
Cameron adds that a successful rehabilitation process translates into residents trusting the process and, in turn, the rehabilitated individuals. ‘The December holidays also have the added risk for parolees to fall back into criminal activities [and] also for them to become involved in criminal activity in the community that they are a part of.’
According to Correctional Services spokesperson Candice van Reenen, the Western Cape had 5 300 parolees and more than 2 300 inmates on probation based on the first quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.
‘For the period under review, 2023/24, 1 409 cases were considered for parole placement, those inmates serving two years or more.’
Of the 1 409 cases, profiles were given for 554 inmates from those considered by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB).
‘For the period under review, the CSPB endorsed 705 placements. For the first quarter of the financial year, the Western Cape had 467 revocations.’
Fransina Lukas, the chair of the national community policing forum, says the group is disappointed that correctional services did not consult them before releasing the inmates.
‘It is quite shocking that such a huge number of parolees have already been released back into communities without the consultation of the CPFs that work hard to prevent crimes in the very same communities where these parolees were arrested for committing various vicious crimes.’
‘We are already trying our best to reduce crimes in the community, these parolees that were released will cause much discomfort in many communities. This release not only brings about disappointment but also unrest as there is no guarantee that these criminals will not commit crime again.’
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‘There is always a risk that parolees could re-offend,’ says Norman Jantjies, chairperson of the Mitchells Plain CPF. ‘People are already a bit frightened, especially if serious criminals are released, and sometimes we can see there’s an increase in gang activity or shootings [in the area].’
Elsies River CPF chair Chief Hamish Arries says parolees are the ‘main culprits’ of gang fights in the area. ‘Some would be released back into the community without the CPF or police being notified. It is a fact that some parolees attained higher rankings while incarcerated and have to prove themselves once released.’
Arries says the CPF engaged with the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services about a lack of communication regarding the release of parolees. ‘Our last meeting held in November at the Goodwood Correctional Centre paved the way for better communication so that we as the Elsies River CPF know who will be released.’
‘We understand and acknowledge that the reintegration of offenders is important, but we must be involved in the process.’
Reagen Allen, MEC for police oversight and community safety, says being released on parole is a privilege given to sentenced convicts after a period of incarceration.
‘The SAPS informed us that, between April and 21 November 2023, they have a record of 2 902 persons released on parole in the Western Cape. This figure is unconfirmed as there has been no response from the Department of Correctional Services.’
‘Regrettably, of these, 113 re-offended and have been arrested. This includes 19 for assault, 17 for possession of drugs, 14 for theft and four for murder.’
He says it is the responsibility of correctional services to ensure that all parolees adhere to their parole conditions. ‘We cannot have situations where individuals re-offend in this manner. It further opens up questions about the rehabilitation process and what is being done in this regard.’
‘We want to ensure that our residents do not live in fear of those who have been released on parole.’
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