Afrikaans text / The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze a group of observation cases referred to a psychiatric institution through the criminal justice system by means of certain measuring instruments in order to determine on which grounds some of the cases were classified as criminals and others as state patients. The sample for the purposes of this investigation consisted of one hundred and forty-two cases referred to the Weskoppies hospital for psychiatric observation during 1988 to 1994. The measuring instruments were the South African Wechsler intelligence scale, the Rorschach projective technique and an information schedule which was used for the purpose of gathering biographical information and personal details of each particular case. The data collected through these instruments was statistically analyzed utilising frequencies and crosstabulations, chi-square tests, t-tests, correspondence analyses, factor analyses and regression analyses. The findings of this investigation revealed that crimes concerning personal relations and property crimes were more committed by criminals than state patients while crimes concerning communal life were encountered more amongst state patients than criminals. Non-person-directed crimes of violence were encountered proportionally more amongst state patients who had a history of substance abuse than in criminals with a similar history. State patients who had a history of substance abuse were proportionally more prosecuted on account of person-directed-crimes of violence than criminals with a similar history. The predictive measuring instrument developed by means of regression analysis indicated as important predictors three subtests of the South African Wechsler intelligence scale namely general information, digit-symbol substitution and picture arrangement as well as the variable "previous psychiatric treatment". The following recommendations were also made: The current endeavour to adapt the South African Wechsler intelligence scale for all population groups needs to be maintained and this adaptation should also be pursued in each country where the scale is used or was used in the past. It is advisable to draw up certain profiles of specific offenders by means of the Rorschach projective technique while the testing procedure should preferably be undertaken by the same researcher. Provision should be made that the accused be declared as state patients only on account of serious and violent crimes while the courts should have the right in appropriate cases to charge the accused with detention in accordance with chapter three of the Mental Health Act. The testimony of criminologists and psychologists should be added to the testimony of psychiatrists especially in cases of accountability or diminished accountability. The proposed predictive model may be further refined and adapted through the use of a larger, nation-wide sample resulting in the inclusion of a greater number of observation cases and variables. Due to the accelerating rate of revision associated with The DSM­ IV manual and the fact that its validity is questioned, ethically responsible psychiatrists, psychologists and criminologists are obligated to identify practices and procedures which threaten to misinform the legal system. / Die doel van hierdie studie was om aan die hand van bepaalde meetinstrumente retrospektief 'n groep observasiegevalle wat deur die regstelsel na 'n psigiatriese inrigting verwys is, te ontleed, sodat daar vasgestel kon word op watter gronde sekere van die gevalle as misdadigers en ander as staatspasiente geklassifiseer is. Die steekproef vir die doeleindes van hierdie ondersoek het bestaan uit honderd twee-en-veertig gevalle wat vanaf 1988 tot 1994 na Weskoppieshospitaal vir psigiatriese waarneming verwys is. Die meetinstrumente wat gebruik is, was die Suid-Afrikaanse Wechsler-intelligensieskaal, die Rorschach-projeksietegniek en 'n inligtingskedule wat biografiese inligting en persoonlike besonderhede van elke besondere geval ingewin het. Die gegewens wat uit hierdie meetinstrumente versamel is, is statisties verwerk met behulp van frekwensies en kruistabellerings, chi­ kwadraattoetse, t-toetse, korrespondensie-analises, faktoranalises en regressie-ontledings. Die bevindinge van die ondersoek het aan die lig gebring dat persoonverhoudings- en eiendomsmisdrywe meer deur misdadigers as staatspasiente gepleeg word, terwyl gemeenskapslewe misdrywe meer by staatspasiente as misdadigers voorgekom het. Nie-persoonsgerigte geweldsmisdrywe het verhoudingsgewys meer onder staatspasiente met 'n geskiedenis van substansmisbruik as by misdadigers met 'n soortgelyke geskiedenis voorgekom. Staatspasiente met 'n geskiedenis van substansmisbruik is ook verhoudingsgewys meer as misdadigers met 'n soortgelyke geskiedenis weens persoonsgerigte geweldsmisdrywe aangekla. Die voorspellingsmeetinstrument wat met behulp van die regressie ontledings ontwikkel is, het drie subtoetse van die Suid­ Afrikaanse Wechsler-intelligensieskaal naamlik algemene inligting, syfersimboolvervanging en prentrangskikking asook die veranderlike "vorige psigiatriese behandeling" as die belangrikste voorspellers uitgewys. Die volgende aanbevelings word ook hiermee gemaak: Daar moet volgehou word met die huidige poging om die Suid­ Afrikaanse Wechsler-intelligensieskaal vir alle bevolkingsgroepe in Suid-Afrika aan te pas asook met die aanpassing van die meetskaal vir elke land wat dit tans gebruik of in die verlede gebruik het. Dit is raadsaam om met behulp van die Rorschach projektiewe tegniek bepaalde profiele ten opsigte van spesifieke oortreders op te stel terwyl die toetsingsproses verkieslik deur dieselfde ondersoeker waargeneem word. Daar moet seker gemaak word dat beskuldigdes slegs in die geval van ernstige en gewelddadige misdade tot staatspasiente verklaar word, terwyl die howe die bevoegdheid kry om in geskikte gevalle te beveel dat beskuldigdes ingevolge Hoofstuk 3 van die Wet op Geestesgesondheid aangehou moet word. Die getuienis van kriminoloe en sielkundiges behoort bygevoeg te word by die van psigiaters en wel in gevalle waar toerekeningsvatbaarheid of verminderde toerekeningsvatbaarheid ter sprake is. Die voorgestelde voorspellingsmodel kan verder verfyn en aangepas word deurdat 'n groter, landwye steekproef van alle observasiegevalle getrek word wat uiteraard 'n groter aantal veranderlikes sal insluit. Weens die versnellingstempo van hersiening met betrekking tot die DSM-IV handleiding en die feit dat sy betroubaarheid bevraagteken word, word aanbeveel dat eties verantwoordelike gedrag aan die kant van psigiaters, sielkundiges en kriminoloe gevolg word sodat praktyke en prosedures wat die regstelsel kan benadeel, geidentifiseer kan word. / Criminology and Security Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Kriminologie)

The aim of this explorative study is to establish if psychiatric disorders influence the criminal capacity of child offenders. A qualitative approach was adopted in the study to develop an in-depth understanding of the issues pertaining to criminal capacity assessments for child offenders with psychiatric disorders. The risks associated with various psychiatric disorders in relation to childhood criminality, and the methods that are used to deal with child offenders who suffer from psychiatric disorders, were also explored. The data collection tool for this study was a semi-structured interview schedule. Telephonic and face-to-face interviews were conducted with child justice and mental health experts from four provinces in South Africa, namely, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. These experts included psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, academic professors of law, a criminologist and an advocate. Snowball sampling was employed and although this is a pure qualitative study, the open coding, axial coding and selective coding process from the grounded theory was applied to analyse and interpret the data. The findings from this study indicate that psychiatric disorders are a risk factor associated with the causation of criminal behaviour. A high prevalence of psychiatric disorders, such as intellectual disability, learning disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder, were generally found in children in conflict with the law. The influence and consequences of these psychiatric disorders, in conjunction with environmental and societal factors, were found to influence criminal behaviour and were highlighted as factors that ought to be taken into consideration when determining the criminal capacity of a child who is in conflict with the law. Findings from the study identified that adequate recognition was not granted to the influence of a psychiatric disorder in the assessment of a child‟s criminal capacity. It was established that, in the criminal capacity assessment, the emphasis should not be on the psychiatric disorder per se, but on the effect that the disorder and associated symptoms may have on the child‟s ability to distinguish between the wrongfulness of their actions and to act in accordance with this understanding. Operational challenges and ambiguities identified in the legislative framework pertaining to child offenders with psychiatric disorders were found to negatively influence criminal capacity assessments for children in conflict with the law. The lack of services available to child offenders with psychiatric disorders, as well as child offenders without psychiatric disorders, was found to hamper the best interest of the children in conflict with the law. Lastly, legislative and service recommendations for good practice to deal with child offenders with psychiatric disorder were identified by the experts. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminology)

In this project the various International Instruments, namely the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child; 1989, the Beijing Rules and the African Charter, relating to the guidelines of the establishment of a minimum age for criminal capacity are furnished. The developments regarding the issue of criminal capacity since 1998 in Australia, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong are highlighted. The historical position and the current position in South African law with regard to the issue of criminal capacity are discussed as well as the implementation thereof by our courts. The statistics on children under 14 years in prison over the past five years are furnished. The introduction of the Child Justice Bill, 2002 by Parliament and the deliberations following the introduction, focusing on the issue of criminal capacity is highlighted. The proposed provisions of the Child Justice Bill, 49 of 2002 codifying the present common law presumptions and the raising of the minimum age for criminal capacity are furnished. The evaluation of criminal capacity and the important factors to be assessed are discussed as provided for in the Child Justice Bill, 49 of 2002. A practical illustration of a case where the criminal capacity of a child offender was considered by the court is, discussed and other important developmental factors that should also be taken into consideration by the court are identified and discussed. Important issues relating to criminal capacity, namely, time and number of assessments, testimonial competency of the child offender, evolving capacities and age determination are discussed and possible problems identified and some solutions offered. The research included an 11-question questionnaire to various professionals working in field of child justice regarding the issue of criminal capacity and the evaluation thereof. / Criminal and Procedural law / D.Litt. et Phil. (Criminology)

A brief analysis of South African Law relating to intoxication as a defence prior to 1988 is given. This is followed by an in-depth discussion and evaluation of the statutory crime created by section 1 (1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1 of 1988. Various points of criticism against the wording of section 1 (1) as well as the problems with regard to its application in practice are set out. In conclusion a draft for a new, more effective wording for section 1 (1) is given / Criminal and Procedural Law / LL.M. (Criminal & Procedural Law)

Afrikaans text / The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze a group of observation cases referred to a psychiatric institution through the criminal justice system by means of certain measuring instruments in order to determine on which grounds some of the cases were classified as criminals and others as state patients. The sample for the purposes of this investigation consisted of one hundred and forty-two cases referred to the Weskoppies hospital for psychiatric observation during 1988 to 1994. The measuring instruments were the South African Wechsler intelligence scale, the Rorschach projective technique and an information schedule which was used for the purpose of gathering biographical information and personal details of each particular case. The data collected through these instruments was statistically analyzed utilising frequencies and crosstabulations, chi-square tests, t-tests, correspondence analyses, factor analyses and regression analyses. The findings of this investigation revealed that crimes concerning personal relations and property crimes were more committed by criminals than state patients while crimes concerning communal life were encountered more amongst state patients than criminals. Non-person-directed crimes of violence were encountered proportionally more amongst state patients who had a history of substance abuse than in criminals with a similar history. State patients who had a history of substance abuse were proportionally more prosecuted on account of person-directed-crimes of violence than criminals with a similar history. The predictive measuring instrument developed by means of regression analysis indicated as important predictors three subtests of the South African Wechsler intelligence scale namely general information, digit-symbol substitution and picture arrangement as well as the variable "previous psychiatric treatment". The following recommendations were also made: The current endeavour to adapt the South African Wechsler intelligence scale for all population groups needs to be maintained and this adaptation should also be pursued in each country where the scale is used or was used in the past. It is advisable to draw up certain profiles of specific offenders by means of the Rorschach projective technique while the testing procedure should preferably be undertaken by the same researcher. Provision should be made that the accused be declared as state patients only on account of serious and violent crimes while the courts should have the right in appropriate cases to charge the accused with detention in accordance with chapter three of the Mental Health Act. The testimony of criminologists and psychologists should be added to the testimony of psychiatrists especially in cases of accountability or diminished accountability. The proposed predictive model may be further refined and adapted through the use of a larger, nation-wide sample resulting in the inclusion of a greater number of observation cases and variables. Due to the accelerating rate of revision associated with The DSM­ IV manual and the fact that its validity is questioned, ethically responsible psychiatrists, psychologists and criminologists are obligated to identify practices and procedures which threaten to misinform the legal system. / Die doel van hierdie studie was om aan die hand van bepaalde meetinstrumente retrospektief 'n groep observasiegevalle wat deur die regstelsel na 'n psigiatriese inrigting verwys is, te ontleed, sodat daar vasgestel kon word op watter gronde sekere van die gevalle as misdadigers en ander as staatspasiente geklassifiseer is. Die steekproef vir die doeleindes van hierdie ondersoek het bestaan uit honderd twee-en-veertig gevalle wat vanaf 1988 tot 1994 na Weskoppieshospitaal vir psigiatriese waarneming verwys is. Die meetinstrumente wat gebruik is, was die Suid-Afrikaanse Wechsler-intelligensieskaal, die Rorschach-projeksietegniek en 'n inligtingskedule wat biografiese inligting en persoonlike besonderhede van elke besondere geval ingewin het. Die gegewens wat uit hierdie meetinstrumente versamel is, is statisties verwerk met behulp van frekwensies en kruistabellerings, chi­ kwadraattoetse, t-toetse, korrespondensie-analises, faktoranalises en regressie-ontledings. Die bevindinge van die ondersoek het aan die lig gebring dat persoonverhoudings- en eiendomsmisdrywe meer deur misdadigers as staatspasiente gepleeg word, terwyl gemeenskapslewe misdrywe meer by staatspasiente as misdadigers voorgekom het. Nie-persoonsgerigte geweldsmisdrywe het verhoudingsgewys meer onder staatspasiente met 'n geskiedenis van substansmisbruik as by misdadigers met 'n soortgelyke geskiedenis voorgekom. Staatspasiente met 'n geskiedenis van substansmisbruik is ook verhoudingsgewys meer as misdadigers met 'n soortgelyke geskiedenis weens persoonsgerigte geweldsmisdrywe aangekla. Die voorspellingsmeetinstrument wat met behulp van die regressie ontledings ontwikkel is, het drie subtoetse van die Suid­ Afrikaanse Wechsler-intelligensieskaal naamlik algemene inligting, syfersimboolvervanging en prentrangskikking asook die veranderlike "vorige psigiatriese behandeling" as die belangrikste voorspellers uitgewys. Die volgende aanbevelings word ook hiermee gemaak: Daar moet volgehou word met die huidige poging om die Suid­ Afrikaanse Wechsler-intelligensieskaal vir alle bevolkingsgroepe in Suid-Afrika aan te pas asook met die aanpassing van die meetskaal vir elke land wat dit tans gebruik of in die verlede gebruik het. Dit is raadsaam om met behulp van die Rorschach projektiewe tegniek bepaalde profiele ten opsigte van spesifieke oortreders op te stel terwyl die toetsingsproses verkieslik deur dieselfde ondersoeker waargeneem word. Daar moet seker gemaak word dat beskuldigdes slegs in die geval van ernstige en gewelddadige misdade tot staatspasiente verklaar word, terwyl die howe die bevoegdheid kry om in geskikte gevalle te beveel dat beskuldigdes ingevolge Hoofstuk 3 van die Wet op Geestesgesondheid aangehou moet word. Die getuienis van kriminoloe en sielkundiges behoort bygevoeg te word by die van psigiaters en wel in gevalle waar toerekeningsvatbaarheid of verminderde toerekeningsvatbaarheid ter sprake is. Die voorgestelde voorspellingsmodel kan verder verfyn en aangepas word deurdat 'n groter, landwye steekproef van alle observasiegevalle getrek word wat uiteraard 'n groter aantal veranderlikes sal insluit. Weens die versnellingstempo van hersiening met betrekking tot die DSM-IV handleiding en die feit dat sy betroubaarheid bevraagteken word, word aanbeveel dat eties verantwoordelike gedrag aan die kant van psigiaters, sielkundiges en kriminoloe gevolg word sodat praktyke en prosedures wat die regstelsel kan benadeel, geidentifiseer kan word. / Criminology and Security Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Kriminologie)