Alternative methods to reduce court delays and prison overcrowding

Statement: ACDP MP Steve Swart

30 May 2003

The ACDP recently participated in a successful oversight visit by a joint committee comprising members of both the Justice and Correctional Services Portfolio Committees to various provinces.

One of the most prominent aspects of the visit related to frustrations experienced in the finalisation of criminal matters by the criminal courts. The domino affect of court delays results in the public losing confidence in our criminal justice system. Additionally, large numbers of awaiting trial prisoners are kept in custody at great state expense pending the finalisation of their trials.

The joint committee spent a large portion of its time discussing ways of reducing delays in courts. The inter-departmental discussions held with the members were most useful, and resulted in immediate solutions, such as Saturday Courts at St Alban's prison with public defenders acting for inmates. The various government departments involved in the Business Against Crime Integrated Justice System Project at Port Elizabeth Court are also to be commended on the success of this project, as well as the success of the pre-trial services project. Both serve to finalise matters more quickly and reduce the number of awaiting trial prisoners considerably.

The ACDP is however, concerned to hear that similar projects in other provinces have not been continued with due to a lack of donor funding. We trust that the positive attitude displayed by officials in Port Elizabeth is emulated in other provinces, and that particularly the IJS and pre-trial services projects are rolled out nation-wide.

The ACDP also welcomes the announcement that Adv Frank Kahn has been appointed to address unacceptably long delays in the High Courts, and the possibility of criminal cases being heard all year round.

These and various other initiatives are to be preferred against the option of granting a general amnesty to certain sentenced prisoners to reduce prison overcrowding.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


For more information: Steve Swart MP at 082 285 6290
Media Liaison: Charmaine Horne at 084 370 3550 or 021 403 3307