The main purpose of this function is to coordinate research and information systems and activities within NICRO. Research focuses on the evaluation of NICRO services that, in turn, informs programme development and improvements to interventions.

During the 2003/4 financial year, two evaluation reports on components of the Offender Reintegration Programme were produced, both of which are available on NICRO’s website. The first reported findings of research conducted on the Working for Water (WFW) Project that is jointly

implemented by NICRO and the Department of Water Affairs. This project entails the preparation of former offenders and parolees for employment within the Department’s existing Working For Water teams, which clear alien vegetation.

NICRO tasks itself with conducting career path planning, Business Awareness Workshops and business skills training for suitable candidates for whom the Department then offers job placement opportunities within the WFW Project. Clients are also provided with ongoing support services, life skills training and counselling by NICRO. Research concluded that the WFW Project was an effective, integrated intervention that promoted the successful reintegration of former offenders and had a positive impact on reducing recidivism.

The second report concerned an impact evaluation of the Tough Enough Programme (TEP). The research study showed conclusively that TEP is highly valued by participants, their families and the Department of Correctional Services, and that participation in the programme contributed towards both the personal and economic empowerment of clients. Findings concluded that the programme proved instrumental in promoting significant behavioural change on the part of participants, resulting from an enhanced sense of self; willingness to take responsibility for their lives and actions; greater respect for the value of human life and relationships; improved anger management and coping skills; greater problem solving and decisionmaking skills and the ability to seek and accept support.

A task team was established to spearhead the effective roll-out of the new Management Information System Strategy, aimed at enabling NICRO to integrate and utilise information technology across the various functions in the organisation. One of the many exciting products to emerge from this strategy was the development of a new statistical database that affords service points around the country direct access to a record of services and the ability to extract information on demand. It is envisaged that this new system will ensure that statistics are both more reliable and accessible. The system will be tried and tested in the coming financial year. Additional improvements and developments are planned for the near future.

NICRO’s work is regularly evaluated from its constituents’ perspective.
In September 2003 NICRO conducted its second annual client satisfaction survey involving 785 participants. We regard this as a valuable tool that provides us with essential feedback from our most important stakeholders, our clients. The survey, once again, provided concrete evidence of the high degree of satisfaction amongst clients about the services NICRO renders. Respondents reacted very positively when asked to indicate how satisfied or dissatisfied they were with: (i) the manner in which they were attended to; (ii) the appearance of NICRO offices; (iii) privacy during consultation; (iv) the use of available time; and (iv) the manner in which their problem was addressed. A total of 79% of clients had no suggestions on how NICRO could improve its services and the vast majority expressed the opinion that NICRO services are sufficient and that the organisation should continue with its good work.

NICRO’s research and information function also ensures the provision of timely, useful management information and encourages good monitoring and evaluation practices. The coming year will see additional time and resources allocated to building capacity in this regard. There will also be an increased focus on establishing research partnerships and the creation of more opportunities to share our findings and learnings with all relevant role-players.

THE CIVIL SOCIETY PRISON REFORM INITIATIVE (CSPRI)

LUKAS MUNTINGH
DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative, a collaboration between NICRO and the CommunityLaw Centre of the University of the Western Cape tasked with improving the human rights of people being held in South African prisons, was formally launched on June 4, 2003 at the Centre for the Book in Cape Town. This initiative was borne out of the realisation that the debate surrounding prisons and corrections was deficient on two counts: firstly a lack of upto- date, quality research and secondly, insufficient broad involvement on the part of civil society organisations. As a result CSPRI has elected to focus on four broad objectives:

The development and strengthening of civil society oversight over corrections,
The promotion of non-custodial sentencing,
The improvement of prison governance, and
The improvement of reintegration services.

CSPRI follows a specific implementation strategy that entails (i) information collection, research and analysis; (ii) the dissemination and sharing of findings with stakeholders to inform and stimulate dialogue; (iii) engaging key role-players and decision makers who are in a position to influence decisions that will improve corrections; and (iv) embedding the achievements of the programme in government and civil society.

During the year under review, CSPRI produced seven research reports that were launched at five public seminars. The following reports covering widespread subject matter by specialists in the field are available on the CSPRI website (www.nicro.org.za/cspri):

Alternative Sentencing Review (Adv Ann Skelton, University of Pretoria)
A Review of the Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons of South Africa (Prof Saras Jagwanth, University of Cape Town)
Report of the Evaluation of the Independent Prison Visitors (IPV) System (Jacqui Gallinetti, Community Law Centre, University of the Western Cape)
Prisoners‚ Rights Litigation in South Africa Since 1994, a Critical Evaluation (Prof Pierre de Vos, University of the Western Cape)
A Review of Civilian Oversight over Correctional Services in the Last Decade (Researcher Amanda Dissel, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation)
Policy Developments in South African Correctional Services 1994 - 2002 (Prof J Sloth-Nielsen, University of the Western Cape)
Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel and Inhumane Treatment (Professor Lovell Fernandez, University of the Western Cape)

In addition to the research reports of this nature, CSPRI also produces an electronic newsletter disseminating topical information on prisons and corrections. During the year under review four issues were published. Back copies are also available from the CSPRI website.

CSPRI is proud to have the following individuals serving on its advisory board and would like to thank them for their assistance and contribution throughout the past year:

Ms Khanya Mpuang	Offender Reintegration Programme Specialist, NICRO National Office
Ms Chris Giffard	Prisons Programme, Centre for Conflict Resolution
Ms Amanda Dissel	Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
Mr Cheslan America	Bureau of Justice Assistance
Mr Vincent Smith	ANC Member of Parliament
Prof Dirk van Zyl Smit	Law Faculty, University of Cape Town and the National Council on Correctional Services
Prof Charl Cilliers	Department of Criminology, UNISA and the National Council on Correctional Services
Mr William Kerfoot	Legal Resources Centre

Since 1994 each election has seen constitutional litigation regarding the right of prisoners to vote. On December 17, 2003 the Electoral Laws Amendment Act was gazetted. This Act, once legislated, would bar sentenced prisoners who had not received the option of paying Fortunately CSPRI became aware of this legislative amendment in September 2003. Following consultations with the advisory board the recommendation was tabled, that in the event of this amendment being passed, legal action should be taken.

The Legal Resources Centre was also consulted at this time, and as CSPRI is not a legal entity, the decision was taken that NICRO would contest the passing of the amendment in a court of law with the Legal Resources Centre representing the organisation.

The Electoral Laws Amendment Act was promulgated in December 2003 following which NICRO’s National Executive Committee took a special resolution approving litigation. On February 3, 2004 the Cape High Court heard NICRO’s application. Just prior to this, however, the Department of Home Affairs, as first respondent, made an urgent application to the Constitutional Court, the highest court of the land, for the matter to be heard in this court without a High Court ruling. The Constitutional Court convened on February 25 and on March 3, finding the legislation unconstitutional, delivered its ruling in favour of NICRO.

The decision of the Constitutional Court was significant in a number of ways and is in line with a growing body of international jurisprudence on the right of prisoners to vote. Shortly after the South African ruling, the European Court on Human Rights in Strasbourg came to a similar judgement in the case of Hirst vs. the United Kingdom, building further on the Canadian case Sauvé vs. Canada (2002). The South African ruling firmly established the right of prisoners to vote and confirmed the notion expressed by Judge Albie Sachs of South Africa’s Constitutional Court that “the right to vote is a badge of dignity and literally means that everybody counts”.

CSPRI would like to express its appreciation for the continued financial support received from the Open Society Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

Copies of this Annual Report are available from the NICRO National Office nicro@wn.apc.org