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 and Security Science / 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))

The aim of this study is to explore the experiences and evaluations of young male offenders who were diverted to family group conferencing in order to improve current services. An exploratory research design was chosen to obtain an understanding of what these young male offenders experienced during their conferencing and also to seek out their recommendations for future improvement of the family group conferencing diversion programme. This study comprised two samples which were purposively selected. The first sample was made up of ten young male offenders and the second sample comprised of the parents and /or guardians of the young male offenders. The data was collected using structured interview schedules. The data was collected on separate occasions for the two samples. Each interview lasted about 30- 40 minutes each. The findings of this study showed that there is still a need to train probation officers on appropriate implementation of family group conferencing and that families also have a role to play towards succefull implementation of diversion programmes. It is evident from the findings that young offenders need their families to support and care for them during difficult situations, as purported by the systems theory whereby society is regarded as a system with different parts and families are an important part of this system. Young offenders belong to families and families are part of communities and society. It is also important to note that victims are part of families, thus also part of society and the system. Family group conferencing provide an opportunity for all these parts to meet in a mediated environment to address the harm caused and make amends. The findings of this study also showed that there is a need to educate the general public about child justice legislation and the emerging trends in the field of child justice including diversion programmes.

Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies / MPM

MA ( Psychology) / Dpartment of Psychology

Thesis(M.A. (Criminology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The purpose of this study was to explore street robberies at Bungeni village, situated under Makhado Municipality of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study sought to identify factors contributing to street robberies, to assess experiences of victims of these robberies and to determine measures that can be applied to prevent them. This qualitative study applied the exploratory research design to recruit participants using non-probability sampling techniques, specifically purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Thirteen (13) participants, including ten (10) victims of street robbery and three (3) local SAPS officials were selected for this study. Data was collected using individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Based on the transcribed data, themes were extracted and analysed using Thematic Content Analysis (TCA). This study established that there are factors that contribute to the occurrence of street robberies; victims are affected by street robberies (i.e. be it social, psychological and financial); and that there are measures that may reduce the occurrence of these robberies. Findings of the research indicate that factors such as time, space, individual’s lifestyle and routine activities contribute to victims being robbed in the streets and that these victims experience victimisation of street robberies differently. For recommendations, this study argues that some of these factors are lifestyle exposure, individual activities, spatial and temporal factors. Street robberies are characterised by the use of weapons, force and threat of force by offenders. Lastly, street robberies have a negative impact on victims. Keywords: Aggravated robbery, Crime prevention, Robbery, Street robbery and Victims

A qualitative study was undertaken about social workers rendering rehabilitation services to male offenders in a maximum correctional centre.The study was exploratory and descriptive. This study was prompted by the need to look more deeply at the maximum offenders entrusted to the Department‟s of Correctional services care and to research the challenges faced by social workers in rendering rehabilitation services to these offenders. The goal of this study was to explore and describe the challenges facing social workers rendering rehabilitation services to male offenders in a maximum correctional centre and to explore and describe strategies to address the challenges. The researcher used the eight steps provided by Tesch (in Creswell, 1994:155) to analyse the data systematically. Non-probability, purposive sampling was used in order to obtain relevant information from the correct participants. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science, Mental Health)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie verhandeling is 'n poging om 'n teoretiese-prinsipiele uiteensetting te gee omtrent voorvonnisevaluering vanuit 'n penologiese gesigspunt. Met voorvonnisevalueringsverslae word daar gepoog om op 'n sinlike manier beide positiewe en negatiewe elemente van die individuele oortreder se persoonlike- en maatskaplike agtergrond en huidige situasie aan die lig te bring naamlik kenmerke van sy gedragspatrone sowel van sy sterk en swak eienskappe. Die hoofdoel van voorvonnisevalueringsverslae en voorvonnisondersoeke is om regters, landdroste en howe behulpsaam te wees met die bepaling van 'n gepaste en ge"individualiseerde straf. Sonder basiese en deeglike kennis van die oortreder as persoon sal enige verhoorhof in die duister 'n vonnis ople en die kanse vir 'n gepaste straf sal skraal wees. Benewens die wesenlike groei en belangstelling in voorvonnisevelueringsverslae wat deur proefbeamptes of korrektiewe beamptes voorberei word pleit verskeie skrywers vir die gebruikmaking van hierdie evalueringsverslae in die strafregsplegingstelsel veral wat betref jeugdiges, eerste oortreders en ernstige oortreders. / The dissertation will attempt a theoretic fundamental exposition of the role of the presentence evaluation as seen from a penological perspective. With presentence evaluation they attempt to take into consideration the positive as well as the negative elements which are present in the individual's personal and social background for example their day-to-day behaviour. The main purpose of the presentence evaluation report and presentence investigation is to aid the judges, prosecutors and the court in determining a suitable and individualized punishment. Without basic and complete knowledge of the offender as a person the court will not be able to deliver fair judgements and the changes that a suitable punishment will be given is limited. Due to a positive interest in this presentence evaluation report several writers insist of making use of this evaluation report in the criminal law justice system especially where youth, first time offenders and major offenders are concerned. / Penology / M.A. (Penologie)

Corrections has always been conventionally known as an occupational discipline and not a profession. The organization of corrections has been spoken of as a penitentiary, bearing in mind that the models of the buildings were meant for punishment; with correctional officers recognized as guards. The role of the guards was that of the keeper of the keys and their duty was mainly custodial in nature. The occupation was mainly attractive to white males with a record of unemployment and not much education. The occupation was stable, and did not require for any extra skill. Certain researchers believe that the selection methods for prison warders were extremely relaxed with a small amount of empirical validity. There was also thinking that a correctional officer needed a 20/20 vision and an IQ of an imbecile. Conversely, it has been perceived that a correctional officer can be the most significant individual in the offender’s life, having an influence in refining or declining the success of the different treatment programs that an offender undergoes (Josi & Sechrest, 1998, p. 3). Corrections is a human service occupation. Therefore, human service workers need to have knowledge of human behaviour and be able to assess their perspectives on any behaviour wisely and thus formulate reliable estimations. This will give them the opportunity to enjoy suitable decision making powers and formulate a trend on professional behaviour. Their knowledge of human behaviour will also strengthen the capability to foresee behaviour and give special knowledge to prevent any hesitancy(Williamson, 1990, p. 43). The role of the correctional officers (security staff) has intensely changed over the past few decades.The correctional officer is in today's corrections, expected to balance security and still be responsible for changing the behaviour of offenders constructively (Josi & Sechrest, 1998, p. 11). In order to have a comprehensive understanding of the distinctive and contradictory role of the correctional officer, it is very important to appreciate the changes that have transpired in penal philosophy all through the centuries. Throughout the research, the researcher will make an effort to capture the heritage of corrections and the evolving systems of punishment of Europe, the United States of America and South Africa and look at the applications of the rehabilitation concept and how the Correctional Officer has been utilised as a skilled and knowledgeable professional in the whole process. The aim of the research being to determine the effect that correctional and professional officers have on rehabilitation of offenders and determine the process by which the Correctional environment can be transformed to a true profession of highest integrity and competence. Objectives for the study will be: • To analyse the history and development of Corrections internationally and its philosophical background • To examine the impact of the history of rehabilitation in the South African Corrections system, from the development of the first prisons in 1652 to the demilitarisation of prisons system in the 1990s, right through to the actualisation of the South African White Paper on Corrections, 2005 • To critically examine the professional status of the Corrections occupation against other existing professions. The issues on education, training, credentialing, autonomy, code of ethics and special expertise are some of the aspects that will be looked at as the primary criterion for professions • To explain the conception of rehabilitation and its development and application both internationally and nationally • To critically look at the importance of Corrections system while highlighting the mandated role of the Correctional officer and the duality of the role of balancing security and rehabilitation. The study will contribute on the basis of knowledge in particular regard to Education and Training of Correctional Officers. A model will be developed for South African Correctional Services Systems and predominant focus will be on the performance and education and training of Correctional Officers in South Africa. / Penology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Penology)

A qualitative study was undertaken about social workers rendering rehabilitation services to male offenders in a maximum correctional centre.The study was exploratory and descriptive. This study was prompted by the need to look more deeply at the maximum offenders entrusted to the Department‟s of Correctional services care and to research the challenges faced by social workers in rendering rehabilitation services to these offenders. The goal of this study was to explore and describe the challenges facing social workers rendering rehabilitation services to male offenders in a maximum correctional centre and to explore and describe strategies to address the challenges. The researcher used the eight steps provided by Tesch (in Creswell, 1994:155) to analyse the data systematically. Non-probability, purposive sampling was used in order to obtain relevant information from the correct participants. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science, Mental Health)