This research has explored the attitudes of Abu Dhabi criminal justice professionals about the possibility of implementing Community Service Sanctions (CSS) in The United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study has examined three main areas including: Abu Dhabi criminal justice professionals’ perspectives about implementing CSS in the UAE; the crimes which CSS can be applied on and the affects that CSS can have on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) penal system. In order to achieve the study objectives and answer the study questions, an explorative approach was taken. The methodology was mixed of quantitative and qualitative approaches, including: questionnaires and interviews and focus group discussions. Questionnaires were distributed to six of Abu Dhabi police Departments. Interviews were conducted with 20 of Abu Dhabi police officers holding senior positions in order to have their views on the study themes. And focus group discussions were held with judges, prosecutors, police officers and social workers. Furthermore, the study also examined the FPC and concluded that it needs some changes with regards to the implementation of some of its articles. The study shows that there are some elements of CSS within the FPC which do not seem to be implemented. The study also suggests that the FPC need to be revised regularly in order to implement or amend measures available. The study also shows that Abu Dhabi criminal justice system professionals generally support the implementation of CSS in the UAE.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 109-115).

As a criminal sanction, community service involves unpaid labor on the part of convicted criminal offenders. Community service was created as an alternative to incarceration for low-level offenders. It now appears, however, that community service is rarely used as a true alternative to prison, but rather as an added condition of probation. The body of research on community service in the United States is modest, so relatively little is known about its characteristics and administration. Data were attained from 88 Texas probation professionals via self-administered written surveys in an effort to gather information about the use of community service as a criminal sanction in Texas. Frequency distribution analyses identified characteristics of both community service programs and offender participants in Texas.

Community service as an alternative to imprisonment at its inception was taken up very strongly by the judiciary as part of the reform of the criminal justice system in Uganda. The successful enactment of the Community Service Act, Act no: 5/2000, was an achievement towards the implementation of the programme in the country. However, its implementation as an alternative sentence is currently proceeding at a slow pace. The Ugandan law still allows courts to exercise their discretionary powers with regard to either using prison sentences or community service. Courts still seem to prefer to use imprisonment irrespective of the nature of the offence, thus leading to unwarranted government expenditure and prison overcrowding. An additional problem is that some offenders come out of prison having been negatively affected by their interaction with even more serious offenders. This study was undertaken to establish whether community service as an alternative to imprisonment can be effective with regard to reducing recidivism and to accelerating reconciliation and reintegration of minor offenders back into their communities.

The main aim of my thesis is to develop an analysis of current legislation governing alternative sentences, their possibilities and limits comparing it with other European Union countries. The thesis also examines the proposals de lege ferenda that could be used as a benchmark and a guide for future amendments to the current regulation. The notion of alternative sentencing became a global trend in the last two to three decades; this is the result of, inter alia, of continuous increase in the number of inmates, prison overcrowding and congestion of the judicial apparatus. Crescent crime and new forms of crime (especially economic) hit the Czech Republic as a former socialist country in the post-revolutionary times, very assertive. The results of studies and language experts warn against lax approach in the form of increased storage imprisonment and criminal policy tightening. There is also talk about crisis imprisonment. It is clear that an unconditional sentence of imprisonment has its benefits, such as preventive effect, in my opinion, however, the left especially serious crime offenders and recidivist behavior: "Nesit summum malum dolor, malum certe est." Instead of intramural prison environment with significant social and deviant subculture find great potential in alternative prison sentences, which are...

Community service as an alternative to imprisonment at its inception was taken up very strongly by the judiciary as part of the reform of the criminal justice system in Uganda. The successful enactment of the Community Service Act, Act no: 5/2000, was an achievement towards the implementation of the programme in the country. However, its implementation as an alternative sentence is currently proceeding at a slow pace. The Ugandan law still allows courts to exercise their discretionary powers with regard to either using prison sentences or community service. Courts still seem to prefer to use imprisonment irrespective of the nature of the offence, thus leading to unwarranted government expenditure and prison overcrowding. An additional problem is that some offenders come out of prison having been negatively affected by their interaction with even more serious offenders. This study was undertaken to establish whether community service as an alternative to imprisonment can be effective with regard to reducing recidivism and to accelerating reconciliation and reintegration of minor offenders back into their communities.

Magister Artium - MA / Community service as an alternative to imprisonment at its inception was taken up very strongly by the judiciary as part of the reform of the criminal justice system in Uganda. The successful enactment of the Community Service Act, Act no: 5/2000, was an achievement towards the implementation of the programme in the country. However, its implementation as an alternative sentence is currently proceeding at a slow pace. The Ugandan law still allows courts to exercise their discretionary powers with regard to either using prison sentences or community service. Courts still seem to prefer to use imprisonment irrespective of the nature of the offence, thus leading to unwarranted government expenditure and prison overcrowding. An additional problem is that some offenders come out of prison having been negatively affected by their interaction with even more serious offenders. This study was undertaken to establish whether community service as an alternative to imprisonment can be effective with regard to reducing recidivism and to accelerating reconciliation and reintegration of minor offenders back into their communities. / South Africa

Penology / (M.A. (Penology)

Penology / (M.A. (Penology)

The World Prison Brief Walmsley (2001:2) reveals that there are 8,7 million people held in penal institutions throughout the world, either as pre-trial detainees or having been convicted and sentenced. Although the rising prison population in South Africa is of great concern, it is certainly not just a South African problem, but an international phenomenon. Prison overcrowding and the resultant financial and human rights problems related to this phenomenon, remain one of the paramount concerns of both developed and developing countries. Overcrowding of prisons negates the rehabilitation of offenders, undermines human dignity in correctional facilities and renders the safety and security of offenders and the community vulnerable. Another problem facing the Department of Correctional Services is the control of communicable diseases and viruses, particularly HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. The problem of overcrowding facilitates the easy spread of communicable diseases among inmates. Imprisonment as a sanction remains a reality. Providing alternatives to imprisonment, for example, community based-sanctions, does however ensure that a significant number of offenders can be dealt with in a more balanced manner. Alternative sanctions to incarceration can be more successful, less costly to the state, have fewer negative implications and will lighten the load for the criminal justice system, hence reducing overcrowding. In order to reduce the overcrowding in prisons there has to be a reduction in the number of both awaiting-trial and sentenced prisoners. Reducing the inflow of offenders from the courts to the prisons and trying to get minor offenders in prison to be released should accomplish this. Courts and magistrates must break away from centuries of reliance on imprisonment as punishment. If more people show interest in the human rights of incarcerated prisoners, then further effort will be placed on resolving the overpopulation problem facing the Department of Correctional Services. / Criminology / (D. Litt et Phil.(Penology))