Guest : Betzi Pierce| National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders operations director|

South Africa has one of the continents highest incarceration rates & are notoriously
overcrowded, this coupled with lack of rehabilitation and almost no support once
released results in a very high recidivism rate.
A high percentage of South African criminals are members of street gangs which
complicates attempts at rehabilitation as the gangs provide a support structure once
released that makes it very difficult to turn their lives around.
A couple of years ago a proposed resettlement social grant for unemployed ex offenders
for a transitional period was suggested but this idea was rejected. As it stands
most released prisoners are almost certain to find their way back to jail due to a lack of
alternatives.

Guest :&nbsp;Betzi Pierce| National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders operations director| South Africa has one of the continents highest incarceration rates &amp; are notoriously overcrowded, this coupled with lack of rehabilitation and almost no support once released results in a very high recidivism rate. A high percentage of South African criminals are members of street gangs which complicates attempts at rehabilitation as the gangs provide a support structure once released that makes it very difficult to turn their lives around. A couple of years ago a proposed resettlement social grant for unemployed ex offenders for a transitional period was suggested but this idea was rejected. As it stands most released prisoners are almost certain to find their way back to jail due to a lack of alternatives.

Get the best of both worlds with Lester Kiewit, a writer for the Mail & Guardian by day and presenter by night. Rather than looking back at the news of the day, explore new subjects and new perspectives.

Get the best of both worlds with Lester Kiewit, a writer for the Mail &amp; Guardian by day and presenter by night. Rather than looking back at the news of the day, explore new subjects and new perspectives.

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