Building a caring correctional system that truly belongs to all

Building a caring correctional system that truly belongs to all

PRESENTATION TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE: SECURITY PLAN

6 September 2005

Purpose of security in DCS:

To provide safe and healthy conditions conducive to the maintenance of human dignity for all persons

incarcerated and so doing ensure the security of inmates, personnel and the public

Key Departmental objectives of DCS:

To provide the public with protection by preventing escapes and effectively supervising offenders under

community supervision

To provide security for members, offenders, awaiting trial detainees, the community and service providers in

Correctional Centres

Strategy 1: Ensure compliance with security policies and procedures

Strategy 2:To enhance the safety, security and protection of officials, offenders, awaiting-trial detainees andservice providers

Strategy 3:To enhance the safety and security of officialsresponsible for supervision of probationers andparolees in the community

SUPPORTING POLICY AND STANDARDS • Security Policy• Minimum Security Standards for Correctional Centres

SECURITY PLAN

DCS

SECURITY PLAN

DCS

The following three strategies as contained in the Strategic Plan of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) form the basis of the Security Plan of the DCS:

STRATEGY 1:• Revised Inspection Manual• National Escape Prevention Strategy• Strategy to deal with high risk awaiting trial detainees

Actions:• Revisiting of the Inspection Manual coupled to a scoring system which will allow DCS to distinguish between more or less critical procedural requirements• Improve security measures with a view of reducing escapes by 10%• Development of a strategy to handle high risk awaiting trial detainees in Correctional Centres

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Progress:• Inspection Manual is currently being revised• An Improved National Escape Prevention Strategy was compiled and submitted to Regions during August 2005 - Regions are responsible to develop and implement Regional Escape Prevention Strategies based on the National Escape Prevention Strategy • A draft strategy and guidelines for the handling of high risk awaiting trial detainees are currently being developed

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Summarized Contents: Improved NationalEscape Prevention Strategy:

The National Escape Prevention Strategy focuses, inter alia, on the following main aspects:• Establishment of secure Correctional Centres for the incarceration of high risk awaiting trial detainees (ATD’s) in each Region• Establishment of communication links with the Criminal Justice System on regional and local level• Secure detention of high risk ATD’s and other offenders during transit• Security during admission at Correctional Centres• Secure access control to Correctional Centres• Effective control and security in units on a 24-hour basis

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• Effective operation of security fences• Effective guarding of offenders in work teams• Effective security and control during visits to offenders• Control over the utilization of departmental firearms• Revisiting of emergency plans• Prevention of escapes from public hospitals• Ensuring timeous finalization of investigations and disciplinary processes

STRATEGY 2:• Security Plan to protect officials, offenders, awaiting trial detainees and services providers: Phase I• Security Plan to protect officials, offenders, awaiting trial detainees and services providers: Phase II• Installation of security equipment at 66 Correctional Centres• Anti-Gang Strategy

Actions: • A Protection Plan in this regard was developed to be implemented in a phased manner, namely: - Phase I: Aspects that can be implemented with immediate effect; and - Phase II: Aspects that need further consultation with other Branches within DCS

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The installation of security equipment at access control points of 66 Correctional Centres (Centres of Excellence and other High Risk Correctional Centres)• The development of an Anti-Gang Strategy to reduce the impact of gangs within Correctional Centres will be handled in the following three phases, namely: - Phase I: Documenting the current status of gangs in

Correctional Centres as well as their modus operandi and their influence on the Correctional system- Phase II: The development of strategies to address the problem of gangsterism in Correctional Centres- Phase III: Implementation of the Anti-Gang Strategy at all Correctional Centres

Progress:

• Phase I of the Protection Plan was communicated during August 2005 to Regions for implementation. Phase II of the Protection Plan is currently in the process of being consulted• A contract for the installation of security equipment was awarded and installation started during July 2005 and will be completed before the end of this financial year• The development of an Anti-Gang Strategy (Phase I) is currently in process

Summarized Contents: Security Plan for the protection of officials, offenders, awaiting trial detainees and service providers (Phase I):

The Security Plan (Phase I) focuses, inter alia, on the following main aspects:• Execution of proper access control• Ensuring safety during the admission of offenders• Security in housing units on a 24-hour basis, with special reference to security measures being applied after lock-up• Ensuring of adequate staff/inmate ratios• Safe transportation of inmates• Handling of threats/intimidation of officials• Orientation of and effective control over service providers• Safety at work places in accordance with the OSH-Act

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Summarized Contents: Security Plan for the protection of officials, offenders, awaiting trial detainees and service providers (Phase II):

The Security Plan (Phase II) focuses, inter alia, on the following main aspects:• Effective risk assessment at admission stage• Assessment before offenders are being placed in housing units• Research with regard to security equipment which can contribute to a safer environment in housing units• Development of programmes for offenders with regard to aspects such as stress and anger management, dealing with problematic behaviour, negative consequences of gangsterism, reporting of incidents of victimization, assault etc.

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• Awareness programmes for offenders and officials with regard to the utilization of disciplinary system for offenders•Orientation of offenders with regard to regulations, rules and processes within Correctional Centres• Resolving of complaints and requests by offenders in an effective manner• Guidance to officials with regard to the use of force in emergency situations• Monitoring of safety related aspects with a view of determining trends • Dealing with stress related problems, crises and trauma of officials as well as offenders

STRATEGY 3:Security Plan to enhance the security of CommunityCorrections officials

Actions:• Development of a Security Plan for officials working at Community Corrections Offices

Progress:• A draft Security Plan was approved in principle and will be consulted with officials from all Regions during October 2005

Summarized Contents: Security Plan to enhance the safety and security of officials responsible for supervision of probationers and parolees in the community:

This Security Plan which is approved in principle and will be consulted with role players in October 2005, focuses, inter alia, on the following main aspects:• Ensuring the buy in and support of the community and family members with a view of reducing intimidation and threats aimed at officials• Ensure placement of parolees and probationers at premises which is safe and accessible to monitoring staff

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• Implement measures to reduce assaults, verbal and physical, on monitoring officials• Implement measures to reduce robbery incidents on monitoring officials• Instituting of measures to reduce vehicle accidents• Enhancing of communication equipment for monitoring officials• Upgrading of security at Community Corrections Offices• Research with regard to security equipment to be issued to monitoring officials to enhance their safety

• Security policy: Creation of a secure, safe and correcting environment• Minimum Security Standards for Correctional Centres based on the following six pillars of security:

- Personnel Security Measures- Physical Security Measures- Technological Security Measures- Information Security Measures- Operational Security Measures- Management Supervision

SUPPORTING POLICY AND STANDARDS

Minimum Security Standards for Correctional Centres:

The Minimum Security Standards which is currently under consideration for approval focuses, inter alia, on the following main aspects:

Pillar 1: Personnel Security Measures• Selection criteria/measures for officials• Integrity screening of officials• Training of officials• Rotation of officials• Official/Offender ratios• Conditions of service/support systems and remuneration• Effective disciplinary system

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Pillar 2: Physical Security Measures• Security fencing• Visitors reception and waiting area• Access control• Tower posts• Outer walls of Correctional Centre• Admission section• Security control room• Arsenal• Areas for the safe keeping of security keys and security equipment• Security requirements of cells• Emergency power and Fire protection

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Pillar 3: Technology Security Measures• CCTV coverage• Walk through metal detectors and x-ray scanners• Biometric fingerprint readers and turnstile gates• Communication systems (Intercoms, telephones, panic buttons)• Two-way radio communications• Detection and alarm systems

Pillar 4: Information Security Management• Data security (Files, information and systems)• Gathering and interpretation of security information

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Pillar 5: Operational Security Measures• Control over tools (maintenance, garden, food services)• Control over medical instruments• Control over tools in possession of offenders for hobby purposes• Key, lock and security equipment control• Access control at security fence and at the Correctional Centre• Contingency plans, Institutional orders and Duty sheets• Perimeter patrols• Night duty• Prohibited acts by offenders• Communication

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• Service dogs• Admission security• High risk offenders• Searching and movement control• Inmate counts• Use of force and restraints• Monitoring of visits, mail and telephone calls by offenders• Guarding and escorting of offenders outside Correctional Centres• Security in health care centres• Control over contractors doing maintenance work• Control over service providers delivering professional services• Protection of offenders

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Pillar 6: Management Supervision •Knowledge of supervisors regarding operational tasks• Frequent inspections and security audits• Trained staff components• Availability of duty sheets to staff• Staff acquainted with contents of policies and procedures• Involvement of supervisors with regard to empowerment and guidance to officials

ESCAPE STATISTICS: 1991 TO 2004

746

1126 1171 1233 1177 1244

989

498 459

250 205325

178 176

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

COMPARISON OF ESCAPES FOR THE PERIOD 1 J ANUARY TO 31 AUGUST

2004 VS 2005137

73

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1

2004 2005

2004 2005

Building a caring correctional system that trully belongs to all

Thank youTogether we can…