Gangsterism is an issue faced by our country which has also manifested in correctional centres, and it is increasingly impacting on our communities. On admission,
inmates are reprofiled and assessed to identify offenders linked to community gangs or gang affiliation in correctional centres.
Nongang members are separated from nongangs, older offenders and vulnerable offenders in order to discourage gang activities. Unannounced searches are conducted to remove unauthorised items and contrabands. The department is also researching on how to limit cellphone usage in our facilities through cellphone detection system.
The Correctional Sentences Plan is an operation to outline the relevant correctional programmes to be attended by the offenders to address their criminal behaviour. The Department of Correctional Services implemented a multidisciplinary strategy in its operations which has resulted in an overwhelming number of offenders participating in various rehabilitation programmes.
We have compulsory rehabilitation programmes for sentenced offenders, which includes but not limited to: New Beginnings, where we offer life skills- based training
and empowering offenders for transition and adjustment into the correctional centre. We also offer anger management, anger in and anger out. This programme assists the offenders to move away from old habits associated with aggression and learn healthy ways of dealing with anger management.
Changing lanes programmes, for offenders sentenced for murder. This programme assists the offenders in understanding the link between murder related offences and weapons. It also assists offenders to implement a personal action plan to change their behaviour and attitudes related to the offence committed.
There are also female programmes that create conscience around females involved in gangs, youth programmes, prerelease programmes to prepare offenders for successful reintegration into society. There is also behavioural modification which is more crucial as it seeks to encourage reassociation and resocialisation of inmates from participating in nongang related activities.
It also equips the correctional inmates to recognise when they are being groomed for gangs and to cope in a correctional facility without gang affiliation. Thank you
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