A study of the participation of Vhembe District Community Corrections Forum (CCF) members in the re-integration of ex-offenders into the community

Abstract

Community involvement in ex-offenders’ re-integration is an important issue in efforts to reduce recidivism and to control overcrowding in our correctional facilities. Crime is a social problem which requires society to come together to fight against. The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) introduced Community Corrections Forums (CCFs) with the aim of controlling re-offending by ex-offenders. CCFs were established in each region to bring the community, business and stakeholders together to facilitate rehabilitation and re-integration. This study was conducted in the Limpopo Province, in Vhembe District Municipality within four local municipalities, namely Musina, Makhado, Mutale and Thulamela. A total number of 30 participants were interviewed and all were members of Community Corrections Forums. This was necessitated by the fact that Musina is a very small area which compelled the Department of Correctional Services to combine the two (Musina and Makhado) into one social re-integration entity. This is a qualitative research study where participants were selected through the use of purposive sampling. Participants were selected based on the value they would add to this study in order to achieve objectives. The data collection method of this study was the focus group which comprised by 3 groups of 10 participants each. Thulamela and Mutale local municipalities formed a group with (10) participants each whereas Musina (2) and Makhado (8) formed another. Results indicate that the current situation is not conducive for re-integration to be successful. CCF members raised many factors that need serious redress, namely offenders’ discrimination, lack of forgiveness by members of the community which is fuelled by lack of community awareness due to lack of education of communities by the Department of Correctional Services on reduce space of ex-offenders’ re-integration. The relationship between CCF and DCS raises many questions based on the results. Without a good working relationship between these two offices, the study observed that there would be no successful re-integration policy. Theoretical implications of the investigation based on labelling theory are discussed, together with practical applications for ex-offenders. The latter face daunting barriers to successful re-integration. Successful re-entry requires strong community support networks and comprehensive services by DCS, both of which are lacking in Vhembe District.