CSPRI Newsletter, No. 24, December 2007

This final issue for 2007 debates the question: Has Prison Oversight come of age in South Africa? Reflections on the Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons and the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services.

CSPRI's senior researcher, Lukas Muntingh, concludes this articles by saying that, "The answer is not a simple yes or no, but rather the satisfying conclusion, based on events of the past four years, that the fundamentals are in place for effective oversight. While the two structures focussed on above, the Committee and the JIP, have been in place for many years, they have both demonstrated an increased willingness to engage with the substantive challenges facing the South African prison system. Increased transparency, effective independence and a stronger accountability relationship with the DCS have been demonstrated. Numerous challenges remain but importantly, a particular character of effective prison oversight is developing."

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