Challenges faced by male parolees in Lamontville eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract

The South African Department of Correctional Services has a strategic outcome oriented goal of ensuring that parolees (and probationers) are successfully reintegrated into society as law-abiding citizens through the provision of rehabilitation and social reintegration programs. However, the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB) is experiencing, and continuously has to deal with, what is referred to as ‘Parole Violators’ - those that have violated their Parole conditions and/or absconded. This study sought to evaluate the experiences and challenges faced by the male parolees of Lamontville in eThekwini Municipality, South Africa, and to improve educational programs to bring about more effective policies. The study focused on male parolees in the Lamontville Community, Durban, South Africa. However, the study sample included both parolees and community members who have a role to play in the reintegration process of the parolees. A qualitative research design, and a Participatory Action Research approach, was employed to provide a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and experiences of male parolees in the Lamontville community. In-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observation, with 10 parolees and 7 community members were used to collect data during the exploratory phase of the study. Further, the Lamontville community building workshop was organized among 10 parolees and 6 community members as part of the action research design. Thematic analysis was used in this study to analyse data collected from participants. While interpreting what was being said and giving evidence to support these interpretations, the researcher was able to identify new patterns, code them and generate themes. The study discovered that the primary challenges faced by parolees in the Lamontville community include unemployment, a broken relationship with family and community members, marginalization, and adjusting to a changing environment outside the correctional service centre. The research then suggests that to address these challenges, there is a need for community awareness and participation in the parolee rehabilitation process, and support groups for the parolees are necessary. Lastly, during the community building workshop, it was suggested that a committee will, going forward, assist the parolees with more harmonious and productive reintegration into the community.