2.3.5 The JICS' comments that the crude death rate in correctional centres is lower than the crude death rate of South Africa as a whole, is noted. The Committee does however feel that given that the correctional centre-environment is a controlled one, where monitoring is meant to be constant, the early detection of disease, psychological or otherwise, should occur, and that therefore the death rate should be far lower than outside of this controlled environment. While the impact of overcrowding and staff shortages is acknowledged, these should be mitigated given the DCS' mandate to safely and humanely incarcerate.