South Africa has released 19,000 prisoners on parole to reduce the spread of Coronavirus.

19,000 prisoners have been released in South Africa on parole. This step was taken to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

President Cyril Ramaphosa gave an Executive order to free these number of selected categories of sentenced offenders.

BusinessTech reports that in a statement published on Friday (8 May), the Presidency said that the measure is being introduced to combat the spread of Covid-19 in correctional facilities so that social distancing and self-isolation conditions can be properly observed.

“In South Africa, as in many other countries, correctional facilities have witnessed outbreaks of coronavirus infections among inmates and personnel.

“A number of countries across the world have already heeded the call by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and have released a number of offenders in detention,” it said.

#COVID19 | President @CyrilRamaphosa has authorised the placement on parole of selected categories of sentenced offenders as a measure to combat the spread of COVID-19 in correctional facilities, which are considered high-risk areas for infection.

— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) May 8, 2020

The Presidency said that this decision could relieve the country’s correctional services facilities of just under 19,000 inmates out of a population of 155,000.

The parole dispensation will apply to low-risk inmates who have passed their minimum detention period or will approach this period in the coming five years, it said.

“This dispensation excludes inmates sentenced to life imprisonment or serving terms for specified other serious crimes, including sexual offences, murder and attempted murder, gender based violence and child abuse.

“Inmates that will be affected by this decision will be placed on parole instead of having their sentences remitted. They will therefore continue to serve their sentence under Community Corrections until they reach their respective sentence expiry dates.”

Offenders may be arrested and ultimately reincarcerated if they violate their release conditions, the Presidency said.

#COVID19 | Offenders may be arrested and ultimately reincarcerated if they violate their release conditions.

— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) May 8, 2020

“The placement of qualifying sentenced offenders will take place over a 10-week period and will commence as soon as all Parole Board processes have been finalised and all relevant rehabilitation and pre-release programmes are attended.

“Minister of Justice Mr Ronald Lamola will in due course provide more details on the parole placement programme in a public briefing.”

Source: BusinessTech.co.za