An overhaul of the way in which paroles are granted is under way to correct what Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha describes as "dysfunction in the system". "Our parole boards must operate in a more professional and independent manner to enable them to make quality decisions that will stand in any court of law," he said after announcing that he had set up a team to evaluate the parole process.The current parole dispensation has been in operation for almost a decade.Speaking to senior staff from 53 parole boards at Leeuwkop prison, in Johannesburg on Friday, Masutha bemoaned poor administrative skills and inadequate efforts to ensure victim and community participation at parole hearings. He lamented the lack of support for parolees trying to support themselves financially and reintegrate into society.His department has come under scrutiny because of the granting of parole to offenders such as:Sizwezakhe Vumazonke, the alleged hitman in the kidnapping and murder of Port Elizabeth teacher Jayde Panayiotou, in April. He was out on parole for theft and illegal possession of a stolen firearm and ammunition at the time of the killing;Schabir Shaik, who served only two years of his 15-year jail sentence for fraud before being granted medical parole six years ago after purportedly having a life-threatening illness;Notorious sex offender Francois Coetzee, recently re-arrested in Knysna after being caught on the property of one of his victims while out on parole. In 1995, Coetzee was facing a separate rape charge and had a suspended sentence for indecent assault when he allegedly attacked Alix Carmichele.Masutha, who noted that 94% of offenders released on parole did not violate their parole conditions, lashed out at the case management committee and the Correctional Services parole board for allowing incomplete parole applications to land on his desk."I return applications and ask myself how they pass so many channels and there are so many gaps when [they get] to me. It's not only costly but a waste of time and parolees should not suffer because of admin," he said.Masutha said he was considering proposing a new parole legislation.He said he wants to improve the recruitment of criminologists and psychologists, and form partnerships with universities to develop "a scientifically proved risk assessment tool - which would be offence specific - to support the decision-making of parole boards".Parole experts, however, say the fault does not lie with the parole system and its regulations but with the department's lack of structure and inadequate staffing."Some parole boards are highly functional but there is always political interference when it comes to decision-making on high-profile cases and the ordinary cases are overlooked," charged Dennis Bloem, former chairman of the parliamentary portfolio committee on prisons.A senior parole board official said the system was hampered by interference and a lack of human resources."The system will work at full capacity if operated independently of the Department of Correctional Services," the official said.Parole expert Brenda Wardle said it was important to "remove the 'jailer' mentality of some correctional officials who refuse to respect decisions of the parole board and its independence ."With 3000 vacant posts, experts say the parole system will not be functional if prisoners do not receive the rehabilitation assistance necessary to make them suitable for parole."Shortage of staff is a serious problem. You can't expect the system to work when there's no adequate staff."There can't be one guard for every 100 prisoners. There's no adequate staff to monitor parolees once they leave [prison] grounds," said Bloem.Masutha endorsed the independent functioning of parole boards, vacant posts being filled and improved consultation with victims at parole hearings.He said he believed that prisoners deserved a second chance."How successful are our rehabilitation programmes if there are offenders who have been incarcerated for more than 20 years, who cannot be considered for parole?"Prisons, he said, should not be "a dark hole where people go and rot"."There are numerous inmates who should have long ago been on parole but remain incarcerated due to our own administrative inefficiencies," he said...