Namibian Adult Corrections From the Past Into the Present: A Difficult Transition (From Adult Corrections: International Systems and Perspectives, P 269-304, 2004, John A. Winterdyk, ed. -- See NCJ-208147)

• NCJ Number: 208156
• Author(s): Stefan Schulz; John W. Nyoka
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 36 pages
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Press/Willow Tree Press
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Following an overview of the demographics, climate, economy, and government of Namibia, this chapter presents a general history of Namibian corrections, the current state of corrections, a profile of the correctional population, and issues confronting corrections in Namibia today.

Abstract

Namibia's current social, cultural, and political circumstances are largely influenced by the destructive effects of prior colonialism and political apartheid. Although independence has brought a new freedom of choice and opportunity to Namibia, the prison system, like other government institutions, was affected by the legacy of colonialism and apartheid. Both the pre-independence and the current Namibian criminal justice system conform most closely to a combination of the justice model and the crime control model. Their general features include due process, crime control, and retribution. Under the Independence Constitution, however, a paradigm for moving from a punitive to a rehabilitative corrections system was framed, notably with the abolition of the death penalty. Still, many of the structures and personnel remained the same after independence, and the dominant thinking of the apartheid regime was internalized by those associated with it, including prison officers. Among the first constitutional litigations following independence were those that involved the prison administration. This chapter profiles two of the most important of these cases. This chapter also contains a profile of the Namibian correctional population, with attention to gender, prison life, drug abuse among inmates, violence, prison subcultures, and HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. An overview of issues confronting Namibian corrections addresses financial constraints, reactive versus proactive criminal policy, prison overcrowding, quality services, and qualified personnel. Overall, the Namibian Prison Service is committed to meeting international standards and its own constitution in providing rehabilitative and humane correctional services. 3 tables, 3 figures, Web-links, discussion questions, 17 references, and 11 notes