Rehabilitation of prisoners bears fruit � Kgathi
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday March 18, 2015 10:25
Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Shaw Kgathi said this recently when addressing the parliamentary committee of supply. Kgathi stated that successful rehabilitation of prisoners had a positive effect on increased chances of reintegration of ex-prisoners back into society and reduction of recidivism back to criminal activities.
“I am happy to report that effective rehabilitation programmes, and reduced recidivism combined have led to Botswana Prisons holding below authorised capacity numbers, which is a rare phenomenon in the world,” he said.
According to Kgathi, as at January 31, 2015, the overall inmate population was 3,960 against authorised capacity of 4,337, an 8.7% difference.
He said out of the current inmate population, 2,817 (71.1%) were convicts, 970 (24.5%) were remands and 173 (4.4%) were illegal migration detainees. “In addition, 392 offenders were outside prisons living in their respective communities of which 359 were extra-mural convicts and 33 were on parole,” he said. Kgathi further said effective prisoner rehabilitation played a vital role in behavioural transformation. The minister also said the Prison Rehabilitation Service was currently faced with challenges such as increased incidents of smuggling, contraband, prisoner escapes and resignation of officers.
“I have been informed that resignations of officers are blamed on unattractive pay in the department, and the pursuit of better conditions of service elsewhere.
The challenges of conditions of service in the prisons department as well as in the Botswana Police and the Botswana Defence Force are being addressed,” he said.