Everything you need to know about Oscar Pistorius’s parole conditions. If his parole hearing is effective, Oscar Pistorius could be released from prison as soon as this weekend. Will the man who killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp ten years ago see success from his sudden “freedom,” or will he see it as just another punishment?
On March 31, Pistorius will appear before a parole commission. However, because of how severe his offense was, his parole requirements are probably strict. The Atteridge prison, where Oscar Pistorius served the majority of his sentence, states that he will be available for parole in March 2023.
Everything you need to know about Oscar Pistorius’s parole conditions.
On Valentine’s Day in 2013, the former athlete fatally shot his fiancée, Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius received a six-year prison term after being found guilty of culpable murder in December 2015. After an unsuccessful appeal in November 2017, his charge was changed to murder, and his sentence was raised to 13 years in prison.
After serving half of their sentence, offenders are qualified for parole under South African legislation. The outcome of the parole meeting does not guarantee the offender will be released early. It does imply that the perpetrator will be taken into account. All offenders given parole must abide by the requirements established by the Correctional Supervision Parole Board under South African law. (CSPB).
According to the Correctional Services Act, parole is the option for criminals to serve out the balance of their sentence outside of jail after completing a rehabilitation program that prepares them for reintegration. The Act emphasizes that parole is a privilege rather than an entitlement.
Common parole conditions include;
- Having a fixed address and reporting to a parole officer or police station
- Having travel limited and being subjected to a curfew
- Being subjected to random drug and alcohol tests
- Prohibited from owning a dangerous weapon
- Prohibited from reoffending in any way
Professor Christiaan Bezuidenhout, a criminologist at the University of Pretoria, claims that Oscar might be subject to harsher parole requirements because of his criminal record and offense.
He told Netwerk24: “They could go as far as to say he is not allowed to licensed place that sells alcohol. That’s how strict they can be”.
According to Oscar’s uncle Arnold Pistorius – at whose home he will stay in upon release – the former Paralympian will be under stringent supervision for the first six months.
He told the publication: “Every movement they are going to watch, what time he has to be in….there are many. But we will follow the rules very carefully. According to the CSPB, should offenders break any rules, their parole will likely be revoked.
After that, offenders will be sent back to jail to finish out their time in custody. If a person on parole commits a crime, they will be charged and their new infraction will be noted on their record.
