While imprisonment developed as a more humanitarian alternative to the brutal forms of punishments which prevailed throughout history, it became increasingly evident that it had dysfunctional consequences in respect of the ability of prisoners to achieve a socially acceptable adjustment after their release from incarceration. As a result, the practice of releasing prisoners conditionally, before their sentences had expired, gradually developed. The historical roots of this practice, which became known as 'parole' - from the French concept of 'parole d'honneur', meaning word of honour - lie mainly in the practice of releasing prisoners on ticket-of-leave, developed by Maconochie at the Norfolk Island penal colony, and in the more refined conditional release system introduced into Ireland by Crofton. From the English-speaking world, the concept of parole soon spread to other countries in the Western World, and gradually became an important penological technique. Although provision was made for the conditional release of prisoners in the South African Prisons and Reformatories Act of 1911, the formal and systematic application of parole only really started coming into its own in the early 1950's. With the increasing emphasis on rehabilitation in the Prison Service, came the appointment of growing numbers of social workers and psychologists in prisons. This, in turn led to the development of a more structured and formal parole system. Yet, considerable discontent grew, especially among the judiciary, in respect of the application of parole. It was the large-scale release of short-term prisoners on so-called 'parole ' virtually immediately after their admission to prison, which incensed particularly the magistrates. An attitude survey regarding parole among judges, magistrates, the categories of prison personnel mainly responsible for the treatment of prisoners, and NICRO social workers revealed considerable disenchantment with the way in which parole was applied. What was particularly significant was that a large number of magistrates regarded parole as representing interference with the judicial decision. Furthermore, it emerged that the majority of persons from all categories of respondents felt that parole supervision was inadequate. A study of the nature and extent of parole supervision as conducted by the National Institute for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders (NICRO), as the only specialised private prison aftercare agency, revealed that such supervision is not of a sufficiently high standard. However, it emerged from a survey of the role of NICRO in the pre-release preparation of parolees that the organisation's involvement in such preparation was only marginal. This, it is felt, together with other factors over which NICRO had little or no control, play an important part in the inadequacy of parole supervision generally. In order to gain a comparative perspective, the Canadian parole system was also studied. It emerged that, while the complex federal-provincial relations render the Canadian parole system somewhat cumbersome, it is generally a sophisticated system, various aspects of which are worthy of emulation. This is particularly true of the variety of flexible conditional release procedures, and of the clearly structured and well administered parole system generally. However, the most valuable lesson that can be gleaned from the Canadian parole practice probably lies in the involvement of a variety of private citizens in the parole decision-making process. A number of recommendations are made in respect of the possible improvement of the South African parole system. These concern the promulgation of a parole act and parole regulations, the establishment of a national parole board, selection of prisoners for conditional release, adequate pre-release preparation of prospective parolees, release of prisoners on parole, supervision of parolees, parole conditions, suspension and revocation of parole, professional staff, liaison between all those involved in the parole system, the immediate release of short-term prisoners, and mandatory supervision. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1982.

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie navorsing is gerig op die vrylating van die gevangene en bet ten doel om aan die hand van 'n literatuurstudie, die Suid-Afrikaanse vrylatingstelsel binne die korrektiewe sisteem, histories met die nodige penologiese perspektief te beskryf. Aangesien bestaande Suid-Afrikaanse penologiese literatuur arm is aan inligting met betrekking tot die vrylating van die gevangene en meer spesifiek die vorme van vrylating, is verskeie bronne geidentifiseer ten einde historisiteit saam te vat en kontemporere beleid in die verband te bespreek. Alhoewel 1910 as vertrekpunt geneem is, is die fokus in die grootste mate geplaas op ontwikkeling sedert 1962. Bepaalde aksies deur onder andere die Inrigtingskomitee en Paroolraad kulmineer in die vrylating van die gevangene en om die rede bet die navorser ook die samestelling, bevoegdhede en werksaamhede van vermelde liggame nagevors en beskryf. / This research is aimed at the release of the prisoner and the objective is to historically elucidate the release system within the South African correctional system on the basis of a literature study, with the necessary penological perspective. Considering the fact that the existing literature on penology has hardly any information regarding the release of the prisoner and more specifically the different types of release, various sources have been identified in order to condense the historical information and to discuss contemporary policy in this regard. Although 1910 was taken as the starting point, the focus has largely been placed on development since 1962. Specific actions by, inter alia, the Institutional Committee and the Parole Board culminate in the release of the prisoner and for this reason the compilation, the competencies and the activities of the mentioned bodies were also described by the researcher. / M.A. (Penologie) / Sociology

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie navorsing is gerig op die vrylating van die gevangene en bet ten doel om aan die hand van 'n literatuurstudie, die Suid-Afrikaanse vrylatingstelsel binne die korrektiewe sisteem, histories met die nodige penologiese perspektief te beskryf. Aangesien bestaande Suid-Afrikaanse penologiese literatuur arm is aan inligting met betrekking tot die vrylating van die gevangene en meer spesifiek die vorme van vrylating, is verskeie bronne geidentifiseer ten einde historisiteit saam te vat en kontemporere beleid in die verband te bespreek. Alhoewel 1910 as vertrekpunt geneem is, is die fokus in die grootste mate geplaas op ontwikkeling sedert 1962. Bepaalde aksies deur onder andere die Inrigtingskomitee en Paroolraad kulmineer in die vrylating van die gevangene en om die rede bet die navorser ook die samestelling, bevoegdhede en werksaamhede van vermelde liggame nagevors en beskryf. / This research is aimed at the release of the prisoner and the objective is to historically elucidate the release system within the South African correctional system on the basis of a literature study, with the necessary penological perspective. Considering the fact that the existing literature on penology has hardly any information regarding the release of the prisoner and more specifically the different types of release, various sources have been identified in order to condense the historical information and to discuss contemporary policy in this regard. Although 1910 was taken as the starting point, the focus has largely been placed on development since 1962. Specific actions by, inter alia, the Institutional Committee and the Parole Board culminate in the release of the prisoner and for this reason the compilation, the competencies and the activities of the mentioned bodies were also described by the researcher. / M.A. (Penologie) / Sociology

Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies / MPM

The rationale of this research is to present a scientifically founded comparative study regarding parole. The comparisons are summarised on a theoretical and fundamental basis regarding: Release on parole:: A Penological Comparative Study, in order to highlight the diverse approaches to parole by certain countries. In this study the statutary and policy making management methodology of parole by correctional systems and parole boards is couched in an overview of literature, using the historical development of parole as the general point of departure. Countries included in the research are, the United States of America, Australia and Britain with specific reference to Alabama, New York, Georgia, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australië respectively The overview of literature and concommittant empirical investigation, defines and discusses specific and relevant legislation that culminates in the operationalisation and management of the granting of parole. The contemporary operationalisation applicable to the re-integration and treatment of the offender in the community is discussed and the reality in the practical exercise of supervision and control over the offender on parole, is also incorporated into this study. It is clearly discernable in the study that the South African parole system is based on international trends in which important influences emmanate from Australia and the United States of America During considerations regarding parole natural justice as a fundamental right of an offender is considered in light of the audi alteram partem rule. / Penology / D. Litt et Phil. (Penology)

The rationale of this research is to present a scientifically founded comparative study regarding parole. The comparisons are summarised on a theoretical and fundamental basis regarding: Release on parole:: A Penological Comparative Study, in order to highlight the diverse approaches to parole by certain countries. In this study the statutary and policy making management methodology of parole by correctional systems and parole boards is couched in an overview of literature, using the historical development of parole as the general point of departure. Countries included in the research are, the United States of America, Australia and Britain with specific reference to Alabama, New York, Georgia, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australië respectively The overview of literature and concommittant empirical investigation, defines and discusses specific and relevant legislation that culminates in the operationalisation and management of the granting of parole. The contemporary operationalisation applicable to the re-integration and treatment of the offender in the community is discussed and the reality in the practical exercise of supervision and control over the offender on parole, is also incorporated into this study. It is clearly discernable in the study that the South African parole system is based on international trends in which important influences emmanate from Australia and the United States of America During considerations regarding parole natural justice as a fundamental right of an offender is considered in light of the audi alteram partem rule. / Penology / D. Litt et Phil. (Penology)

The transformation of the Department of Correctional Services into an institution of rehabilitation and the promotion of corrections as a societal responsibility brought a new dimension to the release policy of South Africa. A new Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998 came into effect and the Department of Correctional Services published a White Paper on Corrections during 2005. The idealistic correctional goal of protecting the community while rehabilitating the offender has served as a reason for conducting research into the parole process from a South African perspective. The qualitative aim of the study is to explore parole as a phenomenon and to describe the process involved in successfully reintegrating an offender into the community. The significant role that Correctional Supervision and Parole Boards play in the parole process and the emphasis they place on community safety, the interest of the victim and the rehabilitation and control of offenders as part of their mission statement are highlighted in the study. / Penology / M.A. (Penology)

The transformation of the Department of Correctional Services into an institution of rehabilitation and the promotion of corrections as a societal responsibility brought a new dimension to the release policy of South Africa. A new Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998 came into effect and the Department of Correctional Services published a White Paper on Corrections during 2005. The idealistic correctional goal of protecting the community while rehabilitating the offender has served as a reason for conducting research into the parole process from a South African perspective. The qualitative aim of the study is to explore parole as a phenomenon and to describe the process involved in successfully reintegrating an offender into the community. The significant role that Correctional Supervision and Parole Boards play in the parole process and the emphasis they place on community safety, the interest of the victim and the rehabilitation and control of offenders as part of their mission statement are highlighted in the study. / Penology / M.A. (Penology)

The aim of this dissertation is to place the phenomenon of the overpopulation of South African prisons in perspective and to rectify the current situation in search of possible solutions. Since 1981, when this phenomenon reached unmanageable proportions, government has made numerous amnesties. This was only a short-term alleviation of the problem due to the high levels of recidivism. Correctional supervision as a sentence option was advocated by both the Lansdowne and Viljoen Commissions, enacted during 1986 and finally implemented during 1991. Initial expectations soon became blurred by factors such as insufficient development programmes and specialised personnel, enormous caseloads and the exclusion of supervision cases from development programmes. This study endeavours to analyse the current application of correctional supervision to determine the stumbling blocks and to create a foundation for new perspectives and possible solutions. / Penology / M.A. (Penology)

The researcher conducted a mixed method research study on parole violations from a South African perspective. In South Africa, there is limited research regarding the causes of parole violations. Thus, the study is mainly descriptive, but also exploratory in nature and considered a first of its kind. The study aimed to explore parole violation as a phenomenon through the perceptions, opinions, attitudes and incident recall of re-incarcerated parolees. Furthermore, the study aimed to describe the causes for parolees to fail on parole. A two-phase sequential mixed methods research design was used that involved the collection and analysis of primarily quantitative data from self-administered questionnaires. These questionnaires were complemented by a qualitative data collection phase consisting of focus group interviews. A representative sample (n=111) chosen according to the various ethnic groups was drawn from a population of 1 111 adult male parole violators in the Gauteng region (aligned to the regional divisions used by the Department of Correctional Services and not to the provincial borders) for the quantitative phase. Non-probability sampling was used to select 22 participants who volunteered for the second, qualitative phase of the study (focus group interviews). Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyse the data collected from the questionnaires. The data was analysed by means of frequencies (frequency tables and graphs) to describe one variable and cross tabulations (contingency tables) to show bivariate quantitative data. All the focus group interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. The transcripts provided a complete record of the discussions and helped to facilitate the analysis of the data according to identified, recurring themes. On release, many stigmatised and rejected parolees face widespread post-release challenges that prevent successful reintegration. The study revealed that poor pre-release planning and post-release support, a lack of education, unemployment, substance abuse, and a loss of family support are described as the main causes of parole violations. The recommendations from the research findings showed the importance of pre-release planning, risk assessment, employment, education, treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, community partnerships, family involvement, and graduated responses to parole violations that are fair, consistent, and legal. / Penology / D.Lit. et Phil. (Penology)