Correctional Services aware of plight of jailed children: iLIVE

The article "Our child prison hell" on January 10 refers. I was requested at short notice on January 9 to comment on a report on children in prison. As acting national commissioner at the time, I was busy normalising the situation at Groenpunt prison, hence the note by the reporter that I "failed" to respond. I would have loved to had it been possible.

The department is well versed in the content of the report and uses its information in planning improved service delivery.

The department believes that children do not belong in jail. The Child Justice Actsupports the department's view and provides clear guidelines for persons and entities dealing with children in conflict with the law.

The implementation of the act resulted in a 77% drop in the number of awaiting-trial children from 711 as at March 2010 to 163 on January 8. Over the same period, the number of sentenced children decreased by 60% from 771 to 282.

The department has long [ago] introduced youth and juvenile correctional centres. Sentenced children under 18 are, in the main, housed in juvenile facilities but separate from those older than 18. The same applies to awaiting-trial children.

Children are classified as vulnerable and a priority group, and special efforts are made to deal with them in a professional manner. The very nature of detention, however, complicates issues like schooling and detention in close proximity to parents.

Sentenced children have the opportunity to attend school in jail in accordance with their individual sentence plans. Though those serving less than two years do not have sentence plans, they, too, have access to services. The fluctuating period that awaiting-trial children spend in custody makes it difficult to ensure schooling.

The department is aware of the challenges the system faces. All relevant parties are being consulted over the draft white paper on remand detention . serious efforts are being made to ensure an effective and efficient correctional service.