NICRO Annual Report 1999 - 2000

National Institution for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders

What is NICRO doing?

• NICRO runs four projects: Community Victim Support, Diversion for Young Offenders, Offender Reintegration and Economic Opportunities.
• NICRO bases it's work on two principles: Restorative Justice (as opposed to retributive justice) and people-centred development.

Where does NICRO come from?

• NICRO is ninety years old
• 1910: Founded on the 6^th of September 1910 as the South African Prisoners' Aid Association.
• 1970: Renamed NICRO
• Late 1980's and early 1990's: The Victim and Economic Opportunities Work started
• 2000: NICRO National Office works with nine provincial offices, each with project teams

Where is NICRO going?

• Crime reduction: an ongoing contribution to crime prevention services and policy in South Africa
• Growth of partnerships: increased capacity through co-operation with business, government and civil society
• A wise voice of civil society: necessary in a country paralysed by fear of crime
• Streamlining the criminal justice system: all efforts are focussed on this key element
• Strengthening of community capacity
• Best practice models replicated
• A focus on under-resourced areas: growth of services where they are most needed
• A rounded approach: Advocacy, policy work, strengthening and building networks and effective service delivery - NICRO is doing something, and it works.

NICRO leadership

Executive Director:

• Outgoing: Dr Esther Lategan, NICRO executive director from 1991 to 2000. Her contribution was manifold. She is a popular and powerful leader. She strengthened NICRO's financial situation, engendered a healthy respect for budgets, achieved relative uniformity in service delivery and emphasised service excellence. Dr Lategan grew partnerships with business, government and other organisations.

President:

• Outgoing: Judge Richard Goldstone after more than a decade of presidency of NICRO. His contribution was particularly felt in the difficult days of the states of emergency. He has loyally served NICRO since, even while out of the country
• Incoming: NICRO is privileged to have Minister Kader Asmal, Education Minister, as the new NICRO president.

Executive Chair:

• Adv Pat Gamble continues to chair the Executive Committee

National Directorate

• Four national directors, nine provincial directors and four co-ordinators.

ACCOLADES

• Probation 2000 Award, London, UK: presented to NICRO by Princess Anne for work with youth in diversion and EOP, Jan 2000
• Participation in African Asian Business Forum, Kuala Lampur: NICRO was invited by the Department of Trade and Industry and UNDP.

Accolades given:

NICRO Community Safety Awards:

• Offender Reintegration: Brendon Bussy, KZN, for work with young offenders in pinhole photography
• Small Business Development: Sipho Nyaniso, E Cape, an ex-offender who runs a successful Joinery and Cabinet making business
• Victim Support: The Trauma Centre of the CSVR, Gauteng
• Personal Victory: Jeremy Pillay for his success in diversion, KwaZulu-Natal

NICRO-JUTA write for a Safer South Africa Competition

• L Masinga, 16, was the first winner of the competition which was conceived by Navine Christian of Juta, one of two speakers at the award ceremony

The Creative Arts Awards for Prison Art:

• Now in it's fourth year. in close association with Dept of Correctional Services
• Winners: Lucas Smous, Kuruman (Recycling); Johan van Rooyen, Pollsmoor (Woodcraft); Winston Villa, Krugersdorp (Fabric Painting); Jackson Sibiza, Barbeton (Pottery); Ndoda Madonda, Sevontein (Matchstick Construction); Christopher Mphela, Odi (Painting); NS Nethathe, Vondwe (Poetry).

Biennial General Meeting, Durban, October 1999

• The NICRO Awards were held the night before the BGM at the Holiday Inn, Elangeni: NICRO showcased it's work to 400 people (250 were expected). The function was supported by Protea Hotels, Southern Sun and Sun International (proving that competitors can work together to reduce crime!)

NICRO PROJECTS 1999 - 2000

NICRO served 91 913 people 1999-2000: 40 029 individuals and 51 884 people in workshops

Community Victim Support

• 40 victim support centres up and running in six provinces
• Volunteers run most support services
• CVS now incorporates the Support for Abused Women work
• Served: 13043 individuals, and 25797 people in workshops

Offender Reintegration

• All provinces trained for the new "Tough Enough" Project to successfully reintegrate ex-offenders
• The Creative Arts Project, Study Bursaries, Bus service to prisons, support of families and bursaries for children of prisoners assist the reintegration process
• The Working for Water Project: the Dept of Water Affairs and Forestry and the Dept of Social Development partner NICRO to create temporary employment for 500 ex-offenders to clear alien vegetation while participating in NICRO skills training (WC, NC, EC, KZN, Mpum and Gauteng)
• Served: 9103 individuals, and 12378 people in workshops

Diversion

• Now in it's ninth year: the target of 10 000 participants reached.
• Property crimes: more than 80%. Gender: 74% male, 26% female.
• Age: 16-17 (45%), 14-15 (28%), 18 and older (17%) and 13 and younger (10%)
• Use of options: Youth Empowerment Scheme (65% ), Pre-trial Community Service (16%), a combination of programmes (14%), Victim Offender Mediation or Family Group Conferences (3%), the Journey (2%)
• Served: 10960 individuals, and 4706 people in workshops

Economic Opportunities Project

• Business skills training: the Start and Improve Your Business Courses - 92% of clients appreciate the course and find it an asset
• 17 successful businesses created in Northern Cape alone(copper cleaning, silk screening, brick making, clothing manufacture, laundry, and auto-electrical services) and 100 jobs created there
• Training manuals are being translated into a wider range of languages by SEIBSA
• 65% of our clients start their businesses within after the training intervention.
• EOP served 7407 individuals and 9003 people in workshops.
• NICRO Enterprise Finance (NEF - a section 21 company) offers micro-loans to clients: ** loans offered to date, target reached of 60% of clients are female.

FINANCES

• NICRO funds: approximately 50% from South Africa (Trusts, Foundations, Corporates and Individuals), 30% government subsidy, 15% international funding, 6% investments and other.
• Audited financial statements are available from NICRO National Office, and provincial statements from Provincial Offices.

NICRO SOCIAL AUDIT

• The Henley Management College, UK, undertook two studies measuring NICRO's relationship with employees and with funders. Results in NICRO News, Nov 2000

NICRO MOVES

• NICRO National Office moved to the Pastorie of the NG Kerk, 1 Harrington Street, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town in July 1999. NICRO meetings take places there regularly.