Prisons, the law and overcrowding
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Date
2014
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wits University Press
Abstract
This chapter is about a long-standing problem in the South African criminal justice sector that, despite an overhaul of the prison legislation after the enactment of the final Constitution, continues, twenty years on, to plague the Department of Correctional Services and, of course, those who are incarcerated in the country’s prisons. I examine both the causes and the effects of overcrowding as well as the constitutional implications, and argue that currently the rights of inmates detained in overcrowded prisons are being infringed and that curative measures on the part of the state are needed urgently. I discuss what remedial measures are, or could be, available, some of which could be employed
immediately, and others over the medium to long term.
Description
Keywords
Prisons, Overcrowding, South Africa, Prison laws
Citation
Ballard, C. (2014). 'Prisons, the law and overcrowding' in Pillay, D. Khadiagala, GM. Naidoo, P. and Southall, R (eds) 'New South African Review 4', Johannesburg: Wits University Press