The Department of Correctional Services averages in its active caseload of parolees (45 000) and probationers (22 000) nationally. It costs the department an average of R 123.37 daily for a single incarcerated offender. This is an escalating expenditure on the side of a very fine budget in addressing operational needs from day to day.
In an effort to alleviate overcrowding (currently averaging 137.25% nationally) and strengthen the trust of alternate sentencing by courts directly into serving small set sentences into Correctional Supervision means that the offender serves his/her sentence in the community through community service over hours determined by the court judgement.
Correctional supervision is a community-based sentence which is served by the offender in the community under the control and supervision of correctional officials, subject to conditions which have been set by the court or the Commissioner of Correctional Services, in order to protect the community and to prevent relapse into crime.
Johannesburg Correctional Services - Community Liaison component has linked the concept of community service and community projects to help mobilise communities in aspects of skills transfer, job creation and active feeding schemes through continual spreading of an organic garden project.
The concept marketed is cost effective, time saving and water saving at the same time. The clover leaf concept is based on the usage of a hula-hoop where circles are dug about 500mm deep. The holes are filled with soil and compost and in the middle of each, a 2Ltr empty cold drink bottle (punched with holes from the base) and tightened with its cap is used. Seedlings are spaced over the circle and filled with soil and dried grass.
Watering is required only once weekly where the water is filled into the bottles and the caps screwed on tightly creating a vacuum like effect releasing the water slowly for optimum absorption. Waste water can be used making the gardening solution cost effective at the same time. These crop circles have been taught by Correctional Services officials to parolees and schools where communities are practicing the concept in their very own settlements.
On Wednesday, 7 September 2011 the Department of Correctional Services partners with the Helen Joseph Hospital in the signing of a memorandum of understanding where the linkage of community projects and community service combine to bring about heightened success in the community service concept and public outreach where we allow the hands that once hurt, be the ones to heal in giving back selflessly to the communities that they have wronged.
Date: 7 September 2011
Venue: Helen Joseph Hospital - JHB - Greening project site
Time: 09h45
Contact:
Samantha Ramsewaki
Cell: 073 115 0374
E-mail:samantha.ramsewaki@dcs.gov.za
