The provision of Library and Information Services to offenders in South Africa with reference to Leeuwkop and Johannesburg correctional services

Abstract

A need to correct the behaviour and deeds of people who have been incarcerated has been in the plans of the South African Government for a number of years now. Shifting from being punishment to rehabilitation centres, the correctional places have the aim to rehabilitate and prepare inmates to be included in and accepted by the society beyond their incarceration period. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were adopted. The case study design was employed to provide the researcher with the flexibility to gather data after an in-depth study of the LIS in Leeuwkop and Johannesburg correctional centres. The targeted population was the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) officials in charge of the LIS, Gauteng Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), City of Johannesburg (CoJ) municipality LIS Department and offenders from the Leeuwkop and Johannesburg correctional services. The purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample for the study. Interviews were held with six Leeuwkop and Johannesburg DCS officials, one official from the City of Johannesburg LIS Department responsible for project management, and two officials from the Department of Arts and Culture. Questionnaires were administered to Leeuwkop and Johannesburg offenders. Triangulation was used to provide different views and opinions during the data analysis. The qualitative data was analysed thematically while the quantitative data was analysed numerically with tables and graphs. Ethical considerations were taken into account by acknowledging authors and providing consent forms to the participants. The study established that there was a provisional policy for correctional services libraries in Gauteng. However, most libraries did not utilise it as they rather used other policies. This is due to the fact that libraries are not autonomous but are under the formal authority of the Department of Education and Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (SRAC). Most inmates knew about the LIS facilities in their centres. However, the study found out that the materials stored in the libraries were out-dated and limited. Additionally, most centres did not have programmes to rehabilitate offenders while they are within the correctional facilities and to reintegrate them back into the society after their release. The study recommends that another study be done pertaining to the mandate and development of policies for the DCS libraries.