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The Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative (CSPRI) was established in 2003 to address the research and advocacy gaps around imprisonment and human rights in South Africa. Since the late 2000s the project expanded its scope geographically as well as thematically. ‘Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative’ no longer reflects its work and the name is to be changed to ‘Africa Criminal Justice Reform’ and will be referred to as Organisation pour la Réforme de la Justice Pénale en Afrique (in French) and Organização para a Reforma da Justiça Criminal em África (in Portuguese).

To what extent do countries make constitutional rights real in law? CSPRI has published reports on 5 African countries as well as a comparative report on the question of the extent to which countries ensure their laws are in accordance with their recently adopted constitutions.

Lieutenant-General Khombinkosi Jula, the Western Cape Commissioner of Police, has announced that an additional 1140 police officials will be deployed in the Western Cape, with 790 being deployed in seven priority areas, including Khayelitsha, Bishop Lavis, Delft, Harare, Manenberg, Nyanga and Mfuleni. The relatively low allocation of resources to these and other township areas is the subject of a case currently before the Equality Court, for which CSPRI researcher Jean Redpath is an expert witness.

Kenya Audit validated by National Council

A comprehensive audit of the criminal justice system in Kenya points toward avenues for reform.

CSPRI-PPJA hosts workshop on constitutionality and indicators

Figuring out where reforms should be targeted requires a thorough understanding of human rights and how those are reflected in national constitutions. Measuring the progress of reform efforts requires an understanding of indicators and measurement. A CSRPI-PPJA workshop held in June 2016 aimed to raise the bar on both.

At a seminar held in Nairobi, representatives from the National Council heard the findings, provided input and validated the finalisation of a comprehensive audit of the criminal justice system in Kenya. The report was prepared by Legal Resources Foundation Kenya, Resources Oriented Development Initiative Kenya, and CSPRI.

The UN Human Rights Committee published its concluding observations following South Africa's review in March 2016. Key points raised in the Alternate Report coordinated by CSPRI were among the concluding observations.

The UN Human Rights Committee is the body mandated to oversee the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in states party to the Covenant.

Around 1000 prisoners were pardoned by the President during his State of the Nation address in December 2015. While these pardons offer temporary relief for the overburdened penitentiary system, implementation of more comprehensive measures, which form part of ongoing legal reform, will be necessary to effect real change.

Paper on arrest in Africa released

PPJA has released a paper exploring the issues around arrest in Africa. The paper considers the historical roots of policing in Africa and how these have been translated in the post-colonial context. The paper suggests not all people are at an equal risk of arrest, but rather that it is the poor, powerless and out-groups that are at a higher risk of arrest. The report concludes with a number of recommendations, calling for further research, decriminalisation of certain offences, and restructuring of the police in African countries.

The CSPRI presentation "Toward the rational allocation of policing resources" builds on work done for the Khayelitsha Commission and presents new data analysing the situation in KwaZulu-Natal.

CSPRI researcher Gwénaëlle Dereymaeker presented CSPRI's research findings on South Africa's anti-torture legislative framework at the Pan-African seminar hosted by REDRESS in Nairobi, Kenya, on 28-29 September.

CSPRI researcher Jean Redpath provided insights around the problem of pre-trial detention in the African context, with particular emphasis on problems in measuring the impact of interventions and of policy change.

A delegation from CSPRI contributed to the Committee's strategic planning session held on 15 September 2015.

Do sustainable development goals mean better funding for access to justice organisations?

Heads of state and government will gather at the United Nations in New York from 25-27 September 2015 for a three-day summit to endorse the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Judgment was recently handed down by the Port Elizabeth High Court in the much publicised St Alban’s case, as it became known, which emanates from an alleged mass assault of prisoners at the St Alban’s prisons in Port Elizabeth in July 2005.

CSPRI releases fact sheet explaining Oscar Pistorius' possible release

South Africa has specific sentencing provisions which read together the Correctional Services Act, determine how soon someone may be released on correctional supervision.

This submission deals with South Africa’s performance in relation to, and compliance with, international standards with reference to offender management, offender rehabilitation and independent monitoring. The submission was requested by the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services (the Portfolio Committee).

"Long list" of indicators proposed toward pre-trial justice in Africa

At a seminar held in Cape Town in May 2015, participants from PPJA partner organisations discussed indicators for measuring pre-trial justice in Africa. A "long-list" of draft proposed indicators was agreed upon by the end of the seminar. Further consultations are planned to expand the extent of consultation and to refine the proposed indicators.

Malawi launches new criminal justice case flow system

Mobile training unit members were trained in the last week of July 2015 on the new registers, case folders and court diary, designed to ensure pre-trial detainees do not get "lost" and that time limits in the criminal justice system are met.

CSPRI conducts training in Lilongwe on new case flow documentation for Malawi

On 27-30 July 2015 CSPRI assisted in the training of a mobile training unit which is to roll out new case folders, registers and court diaries across Malawi.

CSPRI conducts training in Lilongwe on new case flow documentation for Malawi

On 27-30 July 2015 CSPRI assisted in the training of a mobile training unit which is to roll out new case folders, registers and court diaries across Malawi.

This fact sheet was prompted by media reports in July 2015 of prisoners being held in effective solitary confinement at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria, South Africa, in an unlit underground cell.

CSPRI co-hosts seminar on allocation of policing resources in South Africa

The Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry recommended that the South African Police Service (SAPS) review the allocation of police resources across South Africa, after finding that the comparative allocation to Khayelitsha compared to other policing areas was irrational and unjust. To date neither the relevant Minister nor the SAPS has responded to the Commission Report.

CSPRI co-hosts seminar on allocation of policing resources in South Africa

The Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry recommended that the South African Police Service (SAPS) review the allocation of police resources across South Africa, after finding that the comparative allocation to Khayelitsha compared to other policing areas was irrational and unjust. To date neither the relevant Minister nor the SAPS has responded to the Commission Report.

Challenging disadvantage in Zambia: Groundbreaking report released

A groundbreaking report providing an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by people with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities in Zambia's criminal justice system was published on 15 July 2015.

CSPRI works with LRF and RODI-KENYA on pre-trial audit

In June and July 2015 CSPRI worked with the Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) - Kenya, and Resource Oriented Development Initiative (RODI) toward commencing their work for Kenya's National Council on the Administration of Justice.

CSPRI contributes to development of General Comment on Article 5

At the 56th ACHPR Ordinary Session, which was held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 21 April to 7 May 2015, the ACHPR Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (CPTA) decided that its first General Comment on Article 5 and the prevention and prohibition of torture would examine the right to redress for victims of torture and other ill-treatment.

Mozambique's new Penal Code came into effect today 29 June 2015, despite wide expectation that government would delay implementation of the law

No Sábado dia 20 de Junho, os Serviços de Investigação Criminal (SIC) e a Polícia Nacional prenderam e encarceraram treze jovens activistas políticos e defensores de direitos humanos, numa residência onde discutiam questões políticas relacionadas com o estado da democracia em Angola. Depois de serem presos cada um deles foi levado para a sua residência algemados e a polícia fez buscas e confiscou equipamento informático e documentos, nomeadamente; computadores, máquinas fotográficas, agendas pessoais, revistas, documentos vários e cartões de recarga telefónica que encontraram. Muitos destes equipamentos e documentos são pertença de membros da família. A operação policial aconteceu sem qualquer “mandado de prisão ou de busca” e muitas vezes a polícia armada usou violência para entrar nas residências.