The tension between Correctional officials and incarcerated persons: A pastoral challenge

Abstract

The Vision of the Department of Correctional Services is “Contributing to a just, peaceful and safer South Africa through effective and humane incarceration of incarcerated persons, rehabilitation and social reintegration of offenders.” In other words, the department sees itself in contributing positively to make and feel South Africans safe, including the correctional official and the incarcerated persons (sentenced and unsentenced). Considering the reality that corrections exposes one to often violent situations, this is a vision that might become difficult to achieve. As Muntingh (2009:5) alludes when quoting White, “Few would argue that prisons are violent places and South Africa is no exception. Prisoners face a substantial risk of being coerced, assaulted, raped and even killed at the hands of prison officials and fellow prisoners. Officials also face a substantial risk of violent victimisation by prisoners. Even though the Correctional Services Act and case law are clear that it is the duty of the state to ensure safe custody and to maintain standards of human dignity, violence and the threat of violence forms an integral part of the prison experience and is, as White argues, a sustaining component of the punitive function of imprisonment”. The research will seek to determine the contributory factors for the tension that exists between the correctional official and the offender and how the role of pastoral care can turn the situation around to positively contribute to an enhanced relationship, that will ultimately make South Africa safer for all citizens.