Few meet parole conditions

Only a small number of prisoners have been released on parole, despite swelling inmate numbers in local prisons. Recent statistics reveal a nationwide prison population of 4 468 inmates, signalling appalling overcrowding. The courts continue to send more people to prison.

The situation is also compounded by the new Bail Act, which introduced stringent conditions for being admitted to bail. Assistant Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Augustine Nyatanga, said during a visit to Gaborone Central Prison on Friday that while parole could help reduce numbers, that had not been the case due to stringent requirements that left many inmates ineligible. Among the requirements was an assessment report, he said, which must include the offender’s rehabilitation progress.

The report should show the offender’s progress from the time of admission until the time the report was authored. He said it should show a detailed account of the inmate’s performance, thus encouraging inmates to take advantage of programmes such as character moulding, anger management, and substance abuse treatment. The assistant minister said that for inmates to qualify for parole, there should be evidence that they had reformed, adding that parole could help reduce overcrowding in prisons.

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Mr Nyatanga also said he was aware that the new Bail Act had made bail requirements difficult, thus contributing to overcrowding. He further acknowledged the problem of smuggling drugs and phones into prisons, and cautioned inmates against such behaviour. He said to curb the problem, collaboration between prison staff and inmates was necessary, noting that engaging in such acts could prolong prisoners’ stay in prison as those involved could lose sentence remission and parole eligibility. Nonetheless, Mr Nyatanga commended Central Prison inmates for their good conduct and behaviour, saying it showed emotional maturity.

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