OscarFormer Paralympic sensation, Oscar Pistorius’ release from prison on parole is on Friday, marking the end of nearly 11 years behind bars following the tragic death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp but the parole has a number of legal conditions..
Post-Release Plans and Conditions
As part of South Africa’s restorative justice program, Pistorius will transition to the community corrections system under the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). The parole, granted on November 24, will officially commence on January 5.
Under the vigilant eye of the DCS, Pistorius will remain under parole conditions until December 2029. This includes being assigned a monitoring official who will oversee his job pursuits and residence changes.
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Factors Influencing Early Release
The parole board considers various factors before granting early release, such as the nature of the crime, likelihood of reoffending, behavior in prison, and the physical and mental well-being of the inmate. Oscar actively participated in the restorative justice program, a unique approach aimed at fostering reconciliation rather than just punitive measures.
Pistorius’ Restorative Justice Program Participation
Pistorius engaged in the restorative justice program, which involves a victim-offender dialogue. Introduced post-apartheid, this system encourages parties affected by a crime to come together voluntarily for closure, aligning with indigenous cultural practices predating European colonization in South Africa.
In a significant development, Pistorius, along with Barry Steenkamp, Reeva’s father, participated in a victim-offender dialogue on June 22, 2022.
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Reactions to Early Release
In November, the Steenkamp family lawyer expressed their lack of surprise over the parole decision, emphasizing that it followed the completion of a designated portion of Pistorius’ sentence. While Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June, initially voiced doubts about Pistorius’ rehabilitation, she later released a statement expressing no objections to his release. After parole was granted, June Steenkamp commended the parole board for involving the victims.