The present treatise is an attempt to come to terms with the, by all accounts, dismal conditions that exist in present-day South African prisons by addressing these conditions as they are reflected in two interviews with individuals intimately acquainted with them, as well as by pertinent media-reports. The study is predicated on the belief that the most suitable methodological approach to a situation characterized by extreme conflicts and tensions in terms of power relations, is provided by (mainly Foucaultian) discourse-theory and the discourse-analysis that it makes possible. Consequently, after an introduction in which the present study is justified, followed by a theoretical section outlining the terrain of discourse theory and discourse-analysis, two chapters are devoted to specific discourse-analyses of interviews with an awaiting-trial prisoner in a South African prison and a warden employed at the same institution, with a view to uncovering the power-relations at stake here. While acknowledging that the implications of the insights thus afforded are not, strictly speaking, generalizable in a positivist manner, and that the power-relations brought to light by means of these discourse-analyses are highly specific, it is argued that various other studies pertaining to the South African prison system indicate that these powerrelations – more specifically the disempowerment of prisoners by the functioning of violently hierarchical discursive practices in South African prisons - are not restricted to the prison in question. In fact, given the SA Correctional Services’ stated policy of rehabilitation, it is striking that there is scant evidence of any such rehabilitation in the prisons concerned – at least in the sense of prisoners attaining a level of moral responsibility that would enable them to live as accountable citizens in a democratic society. In conclusion it is argued that the present state of affairs, far from being conducive to the stated goal of rehabilitation, actually undermines its realization, and that the social and economic inequalities in South Africa, exacerbated by the union between ‘democracy’ and global capitalism, are perpetuated and reinforced by the existing discursive practices in South African prisons.

A Research Report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements of the PhD degree. Johannesburg 2014 / The current study investigates the relationship between stressful life events, personality profile, dissociative experiences, attachment styles and the types of crimes committed among 100 mentally ill offenders and 100 criminal offenders in the South African context. It is motivated by the fact that there are no studies in South Africa comparing forensic patients and criminal offenders and the various factors that may lead to criminal behaviour, and how these may present in terms of the type and/or nature of offences committed. Instead, there is a growing emphasis on observation of patients and assessments for fitness and competence to stand trial with very little focus on understanding the mentally ill offenders and criminal offenders. This study aims to improve the understanding and knowledge with regards to the presentation of each of these groups under study and also to investigate possible differences in the types of crimes committed. It aims to assess possible correlations between the variables of the study (stressful life events, personality profiles, dissociative experiences, attachment styles and the types of crimes). It further aims to inform future treatment interventions in the forensic setting and to offer possible prevention models for the community setting. The study hypothesises that there are no differences between the mentally ill offenders and criminal offenders with regards to stressful life events, personality profile, dissociative experiences, attachment styles and the types of crimes committed. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Committee for Research on Human Subjects of the University of Witwatersrand‟s medical school. The sample size of this study consists of 200 participants (156 males and 54 females). Convenience sampling was used, where 100 mentally ill offenders admitted at the Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital and 100 criminal offenders, incarcerated at the Johannesburg Correctional Services in the Johannesburg area at the time of data collection, were involved in the study. The mentally ill offenders from Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital were interviewed at the hospital and the criminal offenders from Correctional Services were interviewed in their respective prisons without the presence of a prison guard. Participants‟ ages ranged from 18 years to 60 years. Those people who were not willing to participate were not included in the study. The Biographical details questionnaire, Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire (SLESQ), Multiphasic Minnesota Personality Inventory – II (MMPI-II), Dissociative Experience Scale (DES) and Attachment Styles Questionnaire (ASQ) were administered to the participants of the study as a means of gathering information regarding the variables under study. The types of crimes and diagnoses were obtained from the records. The study attempted to ascertain whether there were any associations, and whether predictions could be made for possible future assessments and treatment strategies. It is a quasi-experimental design with “diagnosis” as the between-participants factor. Independent variables of the study were the type of offender, i.e. mentally ill/clinical/forensic patient offender and criminal offenders, as well as the types of crimes, i.e. violent or non-violent crime. The dependent variables were stressful life events. These variables were measured in terms of low risk to illness, moderate risk and high risk to illness; personality profile; dissociative experiences, measured as either low levels or high levels of dissociation and attachment styles (secure, fearful avoidant, ambivalent and preoccupied attachment styles). The confounding variables were substance abuse, medication and comorbid diagnoses. Descriptive statistics and the discriminant function analysis were performed. Box M was also performed to test the null hypothesis that the covariance matrices did not differ between groups formed by the dependent variables. The Chi Square test for independence was also used to determine whether associations existed between two nominally categorical variables. The results of the study indicated that there were only four female participants in the clinical offender group. A high number of research participants were single in both the criminal (72%) and clinical (80%) offender groups. Furthermore, the majority of the participants in the study were Black, where 93% in the criminal offender group and 75% in the clinical offender group. 65% of the participants in the criminal offender group and 85% in the clinical offender group had no tertiary education. There was evidence that clinical offenders tended to commit more violent crimes (83%), while criminal offenders committed more non-violent (61%) and “other” crimes (21%). 91% of criminal offenders reported homelessness compared to clinical offenders (22%). The Dissociative Experience Scale was statistically significant, suggesting that dissociative experiences were a strong determinant of whether one is deemed a criminal or clinical offender. High levels of stress were correlated with higher incidents of criminal behaviour. In contrast to the literature review, past childhood trauma was not statistically significant in the current study. Clinical offenders reported more psychological problems. When ANOVA‟s were performed, psychological difficulties such as depression, anger, antisocial practices, low self-esteem, psychasthenia and family problems were statistically significant, suggesting that these variables were strong determinants for the likelihood of criminal offending. Dismissive and Fearful attachment styles were statistically significant. In conclusion, dissociative experiences, social re-adjustment, psychological pathology and both dismissive and fearful attachment styles were strong determinants of offending behaviour.

LL.D. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Submitted in accordance with the partial requirements for the degree of Masters in Community Based Counselling Psychology in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Witwatersrand, 2017 / Although research on violence has gained momentum over the last 3 decades, very little work on situational factors involved in violent enactments has been undertaken in South Africa. As a means to address this limitation, the aim of this project was to better understand the phenomenology of violence. Embedded in a psychosocial approach, the study subjected data collected through three staggered semi-structured interviews with nineteen incarcerated perpetrators of violent crime to a twostage secondary data analysis using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The first phase, aimed to provide a broad general phenomenological reading of these fifty-seven interviews. Thereafter, a more strategic and theory driven analysis was performed, building on the broader reports of the phenomenology of violence and the perceived situational factors. The evidence suggests that neoliberal policies and ideology may have a significant role in production of violent crime in the South African context, informing not only the behavioural repertoire of its constituency, but, also coming to shape the way in which perpetrators make meaning of their lifeworld and perpetration of violent crime. The analysis also found that impairments in mentalization appeared to play a role as a situational determinant in violent enactments, and interestingly it appeared to be influenced by a number of other relevant situational factors (e.g. the presence and use of illicit substances, peer and social presence and pressure, indicators of a possible threat to their wellbeing, the presence of gangsters, the presence of indicators of conspicuous consumption, as well as, indicators of the presence of moral disengagement). As such, this study provides strong support for further research aimed at understanding the ways in which violence comes to be produced by the structural processes of neoliberalism, it’s influence on the subjectivity of individuals in neoliberalized contexts, and its arguably corrosive effect on marginalized communities by way of its divestment, as well as, its arguably negative sociocultural impact. The project’s overall contribution to psychosocial approaches to violence lies in its demonstration of the value of bridging theories that span work on moral disengagement, conspicuous consumption, neoliberalism, mentalization theory, phenomenology, and violence. / XL2018

Thesis (M.Ed.) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / The majority of the young adult offenders have a low level of education and are without the proper skills desired by employers. Vocational rehabilitation programme offered to young adult offenders seem ineffective in preparing young adult offenders for better lives after release. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible intervention strategies for improving vocational rehabilitation programme offered to young adult offenders at Polokwane Correctional Services Centre. Focus was also on the challenges faced by young adult offenders during the implementation of vocational rehabilitation programmes for the young adult offenders. Qualitative research approach was applied using case study design. Semi-structured interviews, focus group and documents analysis were employed to gather data. The major research findings indicated that:  Young adult offenders receive insufficient and inadequate vocational rehabilitation training due to lack of qualified trainers for specific field.  Young adult offenders often skip classes due to shortage of prison officers who can escort them to their classes.  There is lack of resources such as textbooks, apparatus to conduct practicals for engineering studies and skills development programmes.  There is insufficient support and motivation to the young adult offenders from the management and educational staff. It was recommended that:  Enough qualified trainers and section heads should be appointed to conduct vocational rehabilitation training to the young adult offenders.  Enough prison officers should be appointed to escort young adult offenders from cells to classroom to avoid the issue of skipping lessons.  Sufficient resources such as textbooks and apparatus to conduct practicals must be provided to centre should be made in order to provide support and motivation to young adult offenders.

This study explores the utilisation of the identification parade as a technique for the identification of suspects. The intention of the study is to empower the investigators with knowledge they can use during their investigations. An identification parade is the most common police identification procedure. When conducted properly, it is considered more accurate than other methods. Crime in South Africa is a serious concern and it impacts negatively on many lives. The fear of crime, the loss of life and the socioeconomic impact of crime, etc., create the impression that the battle against crime has been lost. The limited knowledge among the police investigators contributes to making the reduction of crime more difficult to achieve. This study aims to develop good practice by recommending new ideas on how identification parades should be conducted with the view to enhancing the performance of police investigators. / M.Tech. (Forensic Investigation))

The research attempts to establish how an identification parade should be conducted, for evidence derived from it to be admissible in court. To conduct effective investigation, it is important for investigators to be familiar with the concept “identification parade”, its purpose, the procedures to conduct it and its values. To achieve the goals and objectives of the practice of an identification parade, investigators must know how to conduct it, what the value of its evidence is, and how to use it as a technique to identify suspects. The direction, by implication, and clarification of the crime situation, is hardly possible without the determination of the identity of the perpetrator or suspect of a criminal act. The recognition of the identification parade as a form of evidence gathered is of the utmost importance. / Criminology / Thesis (M.Tech. (Forensic Investigation))

This study investigates the use of personal description as an investigation technique to identify suspects. The study entails qualitative data obtained from interviews with investigators, literature, as well as case studies. The study found that personal description can be used as an investigation technique to identify suspects. There are eight techniques that the investigator should apply in order to identify suspects or perpetrators of a criminal act. To conduct effective investigation, it is important for the criminal investigators to be familiar with the techniques of identification and the application thereof. The description of offenders plays an important role as far as arresting offenders is concerned. The methods used - or to be used - by investigators to describe a person were also discussed. It is important that the investigators should work with other government departments, private investigators and security officials, to implement this technique in order to identify and arrest offenders. / Police Practice / (M. Tech (Forensic Investigation))

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Increasingly, concerns are being raised about the growing incidents of recidivism in South Africa. Of great concern is that reoffending often involves serious crimes such as murder, rape, robbery and substance abuse. The main purpose of this research was to assess how well rehabilitation programmes are implemented in the Boksburg Management Area, and to determine whether such efforts benefited offenders. Based on a qualitative case study design, data was collected from this area using semi-structured interviews, document analysis and observation in September 2013. Participants included programme officials, social workers, facilitators, case managers, inmates and representatives from participating NPOs and CBOs. A nonprobability sampling method called purposive sampling was utilised to construct this sample. The study used the 5C model as the basis for assessing the implementation of the rehabilitation programme in the Boksburg Management Area and the following findings are as identified. Firstly, the officials are conversant with the goals of the rehabilitation programme. The country’s socio economic circumstances have an influence on rehabilitation as evidenced by the wide variety of projects offered, including literacy initiatives, bakery services, furniture manufacturing, and welding, landscaping and community-based agricultural projects. Commitment can be increased and harnessed to obtain support for organisational ends and interests through such ploys as participation in decisions and actions. Capacity is the key to successful execution and sustainability of rehabilitative programme. Lastly, the offenders as clients are the key beneficiaries of rehabilitation programmes and that formation of alliances with civil organisations is critical for effective implementation of rehabilitation programme. It was therefore concluded that while substantial gains had been realised in implementing the rehabilitation programme, however more efforts were required to improve access to rehabilitation services. Amongst other things, the study recommended that institutional capacity be improved to ensure that inmates benefit immensely from the rehabilitation programme. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar word toenemend kommer uitgespreek oor groeiende residivisme in Suid-Afrika. Die feit dat herhalende oortredings dikwels ernstige misdade soos moord, verkragting, roof en delmmisbruik insluit, is erg kommerwekkend. Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsing was om vas te stel hoe doeltreffend rehabilitasieprogramme in die Boskburg Bestuursarea geïmplimenteer word en om vas te stel of sulke pogings oortreders bevoordeel het. Die studie-ontwerp van die ondersoek is gebaseer op kwalitatiewe gevallestudies. Data is uit hierdie area bekom deur die gebruik van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude, dokument anaslise en observasie gedurende September 2013. Deelnemers het programbeamptes, maatskaplike werkers, fasiliteerders, saakbestuurders, gevangenes en verteenwoordigers van deelnemende nie-winsgewende organisasies en gemeenskapsgebaseerde organisasies ingesluit. ‘n Nie-waarskynlikheids steekproefmetode, bekend as ‘n doelmatigheidssteekproefneming, is gebruik om hierdie steekproef saam te stel. Die studie het die 5C model as basis vir die assessering van die rehabilitasieprogram in die Boksburg Bestuursarea gebruik en die volgende bevindings is gemaak. Eerstens is bevind dat die beamptes vertroud is met die doelwitte van die rehabilitasieprogram. Die land se sosio-ekonomiese onstandigehde het ‘n invloed op rehabilitasie soos bewys deur ‘n wye verskeidenheid projekte wat aangebied word, insluitend geletterdheidsinisiatiewe, bakkerydienste, meubelvervaardiging, sweiswerk, tuinaanleg en gemeenskapsgebaseerde landbouprojekte. Betrokkenheid kan verhoog en behou word, met die oog daarop om ondersteuning vir organisatoriese doelwitte en belange te verkry, deur byvoorbeeld deelname aan besluite en aksies. Kapasiteit is die sleutel tot die suksesvolle uitvoering en volhoubaarheid ‘n rehabilitasieprogram. Laastens, is oortreders as kliënte die vernaamste voordeeltrekkers van rehabilitasieprograamme. Die vorming van bondgenootskappe met burgerlike organisasies is van kritieke belang vir die effektiewe implementasie van ‘n rehabilitasieprogram. Hoewel beduidende vordering reeds plaasgevind het met die implementasie van die rehabilitasieprogram, was die gevolgtrekking dus dat meer pogings vereis word om toegang tot rehabilitasiedienste te verbeter. Die studie het, onder andere, aanbeveel dat institusionele kapasiteit verbeter moet word om te verseker dat gevangenes ontsaglik baat vind by die rehabilitasieprogram.

This study explores the utilisation of the identification parade as a technique for the identification of suspects. The intention of the study is to empower the investigators with knowledge they can use during their investigations. An identification parade is the most common police identification procedure. When conducted properly, it is considered more accurate than other methods. Crime in South Africa is a serious concern and it impacts negatively on many lives. The fear of crime, the loss of life and the socioeconomic impact of crime, etc., create the impression that the battle against crime has been lost. The limited knowledge among the police investigators contributes to making the reduction of crime more difficult to achieve. This study aims to develop good practice by recommending new ideas on how identification parades should be conducted with the view to enhancing the performance of police investigators. / M.Tech. (Forensic Investigation))