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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System --------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 08 Nov 2007 Title: Criminal justice system to see changes --------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- By Shaun Benton Cape Town - A series of far-reaching changes in the country's criminal justice system are to see a complete turn-around, says Deputy Justice Minister Johnny de Lange. Briefing reporters on the Programme of Action of the government's Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster, Mr de Lange said a review of the criminal justice system had resulted in several major recommendations being made. On the cards are changes in the way the system operates, with the primary changes including creating a structure that would encompass all the elements of the multi-departmental criminal justice system. Fundamental changes underway would be aimed at achieving "one vision, one mission" among all the departments involved in the criminal justice system, he said. The greater usage of technology by the courts, such as video-transmission technology, would allow the courts to hear bail applications, or to postpone cases without the suspects being present. This would reduce the risk of dangerous awaiting-trial prisoners escaping while they are being transported to the courts, among other advantages. Other recommendations involve the greater use of information and communications technology, such as the development of a single database housing details of criminal suspects and prisoners. This would allow all departments, from the police stations to the courts to the prison system, to trace a single case throughout the system. Underlining the radical scope of the recommended changes, he said specific details would be presented to the public in President Thabo Mbeki's State of the Nation address in February. The fundamental changes centre around better coordination between departments, better planning, better resource management, better training and improved incentive schemes that reward expertise and experience. Mr de Lange told reporters that the justice cluster was looking at implementing the occupation-specific dispensation salary schemes already being implemented by other departments, saying it was vital to retain the skills of experienced officers such as detectives. Other proposed changes involve the strengthening of community involvement in the fight against crime, with Community Policing Forums to be given more resources. It was also recommended that they be given the authority to be able to demand crime reports from the heads of local police stations. While Mr de Lange stressed there would be no "super-ministry" to run the entire criminal justice system, government spokesperson Themba Maseko told reporters earlier on Thursday that Cabinet was set to appoint an individual who would be the "champion" of the efforts at better coordination. Although much closer coordination throughout the system would strengthen the state's hand in the fight against crime, this would centralise the system, said the deputy minister. Mr de Lange gave a report to Cabinet on Wednesday on the review of the criminal justice system in the wake of the President's initiative to set up the Government/Big Business working group on crime. The review identified the lack of coordination between the different players in the system, namely the South African Police Services, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Department of Justice, the Department of Correctional Services and other support departments such as Health and Social Development as a weakness. The changes to the criminal justice system recommended in the review come as government warns that organised crime in South Africa is becoming a major threat to the country's democracy. On Thursday Mr De Lange confirmed this, calling it a "huge threat". He said his department had information that pointed to the proliferation of organised crime syndicates. Many of these syndicates are foreign and they are profilerating on an almost weekly basis. Currently, six organised crime "projects", focusing on corruption, are receiving attention by the authorities, reporters heard, while a further 87 organised crime projects focusing on drugs, vehicles, precious metals and other areas are being investigated. - BuaNews |
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