Abstract: The role of correctional officers has undergone rapid changes in response to increased prisoner populations and professionalization of the workforce to respond to more diverse prisoner issues and problems, including high levels of prisoners with substance abuse and mental health issues, ageing prisoners, and increased prisoner cultural diversity. Research into prisoner health has resulted in the implementation of strategies and some improvements in prisoner health. However there has been no corresponding research into the health of correctional officers. The last comprehensive research into correctional officer health was conducted by Webster et al[1] in 1982. Recently, in 2002, the New South Wales Auditor General raised correctional officers?? sick leave as an issue of concern. This pilot study tested a questionnaire which included some comparison questions with Webster??s study, as well as researching some more recent health issues. The questionnaire appeared overall to be valid and user friendly, and would be suitable for a larger study, albeit with minor alterations. The results of the research, as expected of a small pilot study (n=30) generated more questions than answers, and raised areas to be tested in a larger research study. Some results of this study were a reduction in correctional officer smoking levels from 1982 (Webster 44.3%, Australian population 39.1%), and a lower rate of smoking at 13% than the general male population in Australia in 2004, at 18.6%. Job satisfaction was almost twice as high as in 1982, yet correctional officers have almost half the level of occupational self esteem. Correctional officers had higher levels of harmful alcohol consumption (10%,) than 1982 correctional officers (5%) and of the 2004 male population in Australia (7.5%), and the 1982 population (5%). Occasional harmful alcohol consumption was almost twice as high amongst correctional officers (86%) than amongst other workers (42.8%). A high percentage of correctional officers had been assaulted in the course of their work (76%), but few sought professional debriefing, with most preferring to discuss this with family members (54%) and co-workers (46%). Although the mental health of correctional officers appears somewhat poorer than that of the general population, this, and any link between harassment or assault by prisoners and mental health and occupational self esteem and rewards requires further research.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1988.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1988. / Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, May 2010. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on June 30, 2010). "Program in Criminal Justice." Includes bibliographical references (p. 244-273).

Includes bibliographical references. / The following research presents an exploration on the role that competency assessments and competency reports play in child sexual abuse cases. This research is informed by forensic social workers in practice within the Gauteng Province. The respondents work both within government organisations and non-government organisations. This research uses a mixed methodology approach to explore practices around competency assessments and competency reports. The respondents completed two forms of data collection namely a survey and were part of a focus group which was conducted by the researcher. The findings therefore presents both quantitative and qualitative data, and are discussed to further elaborate on practices within the Gauteng Province. Conclusions and recommendations were made by both the researcher and the respondents, which are supported by the findings of this research and existing literature in the field.

Includes bibliographical references. / This study investigates the children's experiences whilst awaiting trial at Dyambu Youth Centre. DYC is the largest Youth Development Centre in the country, which serves involuntary clients. A qualitative research method was used to investigate whether the children in the centre do experience change, or does change come about as a result of other factors? Does staff succeed in transferring their skills and motivation to these children? Do the children feel they belong to DYC whilst awaiting trial? Seeing that a whole range of issues needed to be explored and investigated, interview schedules and focus groups were administered and the children's views about DYC had to be investigated from themselves, their parents, staff, volunteers and probation officers at court, who were responsible for their admission at DYC.

As restorative justice finds its way into the South Africa's thinking around improving the criminal justice system, there is little knowledge as to whether the key role players in a restorative justice approach, the victims and perpetrators, would find it desirable or feasible. Concerns around the appropriateness of restorative justice from the perspective of victims and perpetrators were born out of the complex social and historical context in South Africa, which it seemed, could pose challenges to the application of restorative justice. Hence the decision to consult with key role players who have had experience with crime and the existing criminal justice system on how they would perceive the concept of restorative justice as a means of dealing with criminal cases in South Africa. Given that restorstive justice has been proposed specifically for youth at this initial stage, the focus of the research was on criminal cases involving perpetrators below the age of 18 years. Through this process of consultation with victims and perpertrators of youth crime, the hope was to unpack some of the challenges and opportunities for restorative justice in South Africa. (133-139 pages missing).

In era of prevalent crime and social problems in South Africa, the National Department of Social Development; the South African Council of Social Service Professions and tertiary institutions are rethinking strategies to respond to these issues. A central strategy behind this is the development of forensic social work practice as a specialist service in order to assist the criminal justice system to deal effectively with offenders and protect victims. The aim of this study was to investigate the specialized skills and knowledge required for forensic social work practice in South Africa. Literature acknowledges that forensic social work is still a developing field of practice in South Africa hence forensic social work practitioners require effective training to competently practice forensic social work. The research design adopted by the study is a combination research design comprising of both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The research empirical data was obtained through the use of questionnaires from a survey conducted in Gauteng Province, South Africa at a forensic social work training workshop in 2013. The study indicated that forensic social work practitioners are familiar with some of the specialized skills such as language used in court, writing skills, communication and engagement skills and professionalism. The study also indicated that forensic social work practitioners are also familiar with some of the knowledge such as the definition of forensic social work, legal aspects, criminal justice system, courtroom procedures and knowledge required to act as an expert witness in court for forensic social work practice. However, despite this, forensic social work practitioners had inadequate training in the specialized skills and knowledge required to competently practice forensic social work in South Africa. In addition, the study showed that there are many challenges faced by forensic social work practitioners. Challenges include lack of resources, undermining of forensic social work practitioners by other professionals, adoption of international standards, registration, role specification and lack of collaboration with other professionals. The author recommended that forensic social work practitioners in South Africa require further training in legislation, policies and the specialized skills and knowledge relevant for forensic social work practice and finding solutions to overcome the challenges faced. Further research should be conducted in other provinces in South Africa for forensic social work.

The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of service providers on the availability and effectiveness of sexual violence interventions, services and programmes in De Aar. Participants were selected based on the nature of service they rendered to survivors of sexual violence. A qualitative study was conducted, using non-probability purposive sampling and snowball sampling. Data was gathered through a semi-structured interview. The study found protection services, medical and psychological interventions to be easily accessible to all survivors of sexual violence. Additional services were also found to be available to survivors of sexual violence, depending on their needs. Participants were all of the opinion that the needs of survivors were being met in De Aar. The data found the perceptions of service providers on the effectiveness of their interventions to be influenced by their adherence to regulations and training received through their organisations, in addition to personal steps taken to develop professional skills. The attitude of service providers and the co-operation of service users were found to hinder the effectiveness and consistency of prescribed interventions. Gaps found to be inherent in all organisations were lack of human and physical resources such as vehicles. Stakeholders were found to be ineffective in their communication and co-operation between stakeholders was inadequate. Challenges found to hinder help-seeking were the perceptions of the community of the South African Police Service and sexual violence in general. The survivors themselves were also identified as a barrier to intervention, as they might accept, reject or discontinue intervention without warning. Considering the aim and objective of this study, it can be concluded that there are services in place for survivors of sexual violence in De Aar. Immediate services, such as post-rape medical and legal services, are easily accessible. Follow-up and aftercare service are determined by a social worker and most organisations are effective in the services they render, despite organisational challenges and limitations.

Includes bibliography. / The researcher's knowledge and experience in probation work, including conducting pre-sentence investigations and compiling pre-trial and presentence reports, inspired him to want to find out more about the attitudes and sentencing practices of magistrates and public prosecutors, specifically in housebreaking offences. Some individuals and communities hold a notion that offenders normally break into properties and steal goods or items mainly because they are hungry, destitute, unemployed, or have no visible means of income. Such a belief may, to a large extent, influence or shape judicial attitudes in the sentencing of youth offenders for housebreaking crimes.