Mmusi stated that in order to ensure safety and security within prisons, the service has established the strategic operational support units being rapid response teams, prison police unit and prison intelligence unit in 2022. However, Mmusi said the service offers psycho social programmes to offenders to correct their offending behaviour.
He stated that a total of 681 prisoners have been enrolled in character moulding programmes while 1,638 have been offered counselling services. He added that the service has also introduced the offender reintegration programme, which is delivered in partnership with the community in ensuring successful offender/victim reconciliation, acceptance and effective reintegration. “This was done out of the realisation that involvement of the community is key. The programme provides platform for participation of the community in offender reintegration through community-based committees,” he said. Mmusi stated that 426 community-based reintegration committees have been formed across the country and a total of 151 prisoners have been successfully handed over to the committees. He revealed that none of these ex-offenders has reoffended so far. He, however, stated that the offenders and prison officers continue to be of profound importance to the ministry. He further revealed that currently there is an ongoing board of inquiry regarding the Kasane prison incident where one inmate unfortunately lost his life and an officer is still recovering. Mmusi added that the service has introduced Gender-Based Violence (GBV) perpetrators programme, which is intended to assist offenders who have committed gender based offences. He revealed that so far 484 inmates have been enrolled in the programme.
