(iv) Community involvement A further challenge in the correctional process is the lack of the required support from the community/public. The public seems to regard prisoners as social outcasts and deserve whatever treatment is given to them. The public is therefore concerned about keeping prisoners locked up rather than about the conditions in which they are confined. As a result, it is reluctant to assist the department in its programme of rehabilitation and reintegration. The old dictum of “once and criminal, always a criminal” still looms. It is therefore difficult for ex-offenders to be employed, to get loans, and to get meaningful support from their families and the community. The general public has not been adequately sensitized to accept the fact that prisoners can contribute meaningfully to community development and restore the harm they caused to the community. The reaction of the public to criminals has been very hostile and until this is reshaped, it will be difficult to implement alternative sentencing programmes such as community services. The introduction of restorative or relational justice would go a long way to address public perception about prisoners. A lot of public sensitization is however, necessary. Government policy has also not been helpful. The policy which prohibits the employment of any person with a criminal record by government means that even reformed and rehabilitated offenders cannot be employed by the government. If the government is wary of employing persons it deems it has rehabilitated, private companies will be even more wary. The government should lead by example and demonstrate to the public that ex-offenders can contribute to their community. It should do this by repealing the law forbidding the employment of persons with criminal records. (v) Corruption Following numerous allegations of corruption, maladministration, nepotism, intimidation and other improper conduct in some of the Prisons, the Minister of Correctional Services approached the President to appoint an independent judicial commission of inquiry to thoroughly investigate the allegations and to make comprehensive recommendations in that regard. In 2001 a Commission of Inquiry called the Jali Commission was thus established. The final report of the Jali Commission is yet to be published. However, some of the corrupt practices alleged include prisoners leaving the premises illegally and this was being done with the full knowledge and assistance of warders. Drug trafficking by warders in collaboration with prisoners was rife. There appears to be collusion between prison officials and some prisoners not only in the promotion of violence in prisons but also in the smuggling of tobacco and other illicit substances into prisons, such as knives and other dangerous weapons. It is alleged that some officials support certain gangs and lend them support when they are fighting other gangs. 55