ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, POLICE AND PRISONS - PRISONS (FROM A SURVEY OF RACE RELATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA, 1977, BY LORAINE GORDON ET AL)

• NCJ Number: 48610
• Author(s): L GORDON; S BLIGNAUT; S MORONEY; C COOPER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: P O Box 97
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic)
• Language: English
• Country: South Africa

Annotation

REPORTS PRESENTED CONCERN PRISON BUDGET AND STAFF, CONDITIONS, REGULATIONS, AND PROGRAMS. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE ROBBEN ISLAND FACILITY IN RESPONSE TO CHARGES OF POLICE BRUTALITY AND POOR PRISON CONDITIONS.

Abstract

ESTIMATED ANNUAL COST PER PRISONER IN SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTIONS IS PRESENTED, AND THE PERSONNEL STATEMENT INDICATES THE HIGHER POSITIONS ARE BEING OFFERED TO BLACK OFFICERS. REGARDING PRISON CONDITIONS, THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS HAS STATED THAT EQUAL FACILITIES FOR ALL PRISONERS REGARDLESS OF RACE WERE BEING INTRODUCED. SEVERAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO PRISON CONDITIONS, POLICE BRUTALITY, AND REHABILITATION EFFECTIVENESS ARE REPORTED. AN AMENDMENT TO PRISON REGULATIONS IS NOTED, MAKING IT AN OFFENSE FOR A GUARD TO ASSAULT A PRISONER. A STATEMENT ON PRISON LABOR SHOWS FEES EARNED BY BLACK INMATE LABORERS WHO ARE HIRED OUT TO PRIVATE PERSONS. SOCIAL WORK AND SPIRITUAL SERVICES ARE REVIEWED, AND THE PRISONS AMENDMENT ACT OF 1977, PROHIBITING THE PUBLICATION OF WRITINGS AND STATEMENTS BY OR ABOUT INMATES CONTAINING INFORMATION NOT ADMITTED IN EVIDENCE AT THE TRIAL, IS DISCUSSED. SEVERAL ACCUSATIONS BY PRISONERS, THE PRESS, AND AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AGAINST POLICE AND GUARDS AT THE ROBBEN ISLAND FACILITY ARE CONSIDERED. CHARGES CONCERNED THE USE OF POLICE DOGS FOR ATTACKING PRISONERS AND IMPOSITION OF EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENTS FOR DISOBEDIENCE. REPORTS ISSUED BY FOREIGN AND LOCAL JOURNALISTS WERE FAVORABLE TOWARDS THE PRISON; HOWEVER, WHILE VISITING THE PRISON, REPORTERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK TO THE PRISONERS OR VISIT THEIR CELLS, AND THE REPORTS HAD TO BE CLEARED BY THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT. POLITICAL PRISONERS IN PRETORIA CENTRAL PRISON BROUGHT AN APPLICATION BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT ASKING FOR THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE SELF-SELECTED READING MATERIALS AND TO SEND AND RECEIVE MAIL WITHOUT CENSORSHIP, BUT THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT REJECTED THE APPLICATION. HOWEVER, FUTURE PLANS FOR INCREASED VISITING RIGHTS, LIBRARY FACILITY PRIVILEGES, AND ACCESS TO RADIO NEWS BULLETINS WERE ANNOUNCED. TWO REQUESTS FOR RELEASE, ONE ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS AND ONE REGARDING POLITICAL PRISONERS, WERE TURNED DOWN. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)