“Corrections is a societal responsibility” – a principle that Deputy Director: Community Involvement Bridget Nkadimeng embodies daily as she works to ensure communities actively participate in offenders’ successful reintegration.
Based at the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) National Office, Nkadimeng has dedicated her career to strengthening partnerships between DCS and external stakeholders. She ensures that communities – through civil society, faith-based organisations, traditional leaders, employers and other stakeholders – play an active role in making reintegration meaningful and sustainable.
Preparing Communities to Receive Offenders
The overall objective of Community Liaison is to mobilise communities to support the successful reintegration of parolees and probationers, ensuring their adjustment, managing stigma and providing advice on criminal record expungement.
After serving a minimum sentence, offenders return to their communities. Communities must therefore be prepared and empowered to receive, support, and guide them.
Nkadimeng’s responsibilities include coordinating rehabilitation and reintegration programmes, facilitating community participation and monitoring the implementation of community involvement initiatives.
Genuine Partnerships, Not Just Meetings
Community involvement goes beyond inviting stakeholders to meetings. It requires creating genuine partnerships in which communities become active participants in preparing offenders for their return to society.
Through community initiatives, parolees and probationers restore relationships by contributing their labour to community-based projects, including agriculture, infrastructure development and poverty alleviation programmes.
Reintegration Begins During Incarceration
Successful reintegration does not begin on the day an offender walks out of a correctional centre – it begins during incarceration.
Through rehabilitation programmes, offenders address the factors that contributed to their offending behaviour, acquire skills, develop positive values and prepare for responsible citizenship. These interventions achieve their full potential only when complemented by community support.
Communities Can Create Pathways to Success
Communities contribute to reintegration by creating supportive environments, assisting with referrals to social services and facilitating access to employment and skills-development opportunities.
The objective is not to excuse criminal behaviour or diminish the harm caused by crime. Rather, it is to recognise that successful reintegration contributes to safer, more cohesive communities. When individuals leaving correctional facilities are rejected, stigmatised and excluded from opportunities, the challenges of reintegration intensify. Conversely, when communities participate constructively, they help create pathways towards responsible and productive citizenship.
Breaking the Stigma of a Criminal Record
One of the greatest challenges facing former offenders is the stigma of having a criminal record. Even after completing their sentences, many struggle to secure employment, access opportunities or rebuild relationships. Community involvement helps address these barriers and reduces recidivism.
Partnerships with employers open doors to employment and work experience. Skills-development institutions provide further training. Faith-based organisations offer moral, spiritual and psychosocial support. NGOs assist with counselling, substance-abuse interventions and family support. Families remain an important source of acceptance, accountability and encouragement.
Through her work, Bridget Nkadimeng ensures that the Department’s mandate of successful reintegration is realised through genuine community collaboration.