Dear Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services,

Over the past 20 years as a freelance social justice researcher and consultant to both State and the Public, some of my recommendations and proposals regarding the Rehabilitation of inmates and former inmates have failed to draw the necessary response and in this writing, I trust that this responsible Committee will favorably consider my recommendation.
While prison is a place for those who committed whatever crime, to serve Prison is an institution for the confinement of persons who have been remanded or convicted of crimes. In the SA context we talk about "correctional facilities and detention centres" with the hope that the convicted will be rehabilitated or their behavior to commit a crime will be corrected, primarily when been released back after having served the require prison sentence or part thereof (early release for good behavior by the Parole committee.
Now after having served the respective prison sentence, how will it be possible for any former convicted prisoner or those who received a suspended sentence or a fine when seeking any form of employment to succeed, when the vast majority of private companies including state departments and SOE's refuses to even consider employing any South African with any form of criminal record. Even a speeding fine can make a person unemployable because of the criminal record.
My question to this Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, how can we avoid those mentioned above, to not become repeated offenders by affording them the opportunity to be reformed and after their past criminal behavior had been "corrected", the right to human dignity to become "trusted" citizens that so that they can be employable and can start adding value to their community and country, instead of a menace to society because when we refuse them the right to employment what alternatives do we allow them?
While due consideration and measures must be put in place, so that we cannot allow a who was criminally charged and sentenced for "rape or sexual assault" to be employed at a children's nursery or frail care centre for the aged. Nor consider a person who had a previous criminal record for drug and substance abuse to work in a pharmacy or pharmaceutical company. There should be some form of limitations, but we cannot refuse a reformed former inmate or any person with a criminal record the right to human dignity and a right to employment.
I thank you

Yours sincerely
Mark A Trimble
30 July 2024