In the present phase at any point in time, between 125 and 135 serving offenders participate in group projects in at least eight prisons – there has been a marked upwards involvement of prisoners in the last part of 2010. Intensive group work is being conducted at Vryheid, Nkandla, Melmoth, Nongoma, Eshowe, Mthunzini, Empangeni Qalakabusha (a very substantial expansion here), Empangeni Medium B, Eshowe, with discussion to restart programmes as Stanger and Maphumulo in early January. Experience suggests to us that 8 participants form the ideal group size but some groups can be slightly smaller or larger. Recruitment follows several patterns, and is recurring and ongoing. The following is a summary of Facilitators’ responsibilities and active prison projects in the period under review.
Full-group Family Conferencing is the project lying at the pinnacle of an incremental and interrelated project structure: these occur at approximately ten-day intervals, sometimes on Saturdays, and sometimes on weekdays. The Programme is still on track to accomplish 38 family Conferences in the current calendar year.
The task of reporting to the Case Management Committees, and therefore Parole Board, on all participants has become a demanding aspect of the Programme and record-keeping, incrementally accumulating in the Phoenix data base.
Source: http://www.phoenix-zululand.org/v1/news.php?extend.4