1 Abstract This work concentrates on transformation of social services, in other words, it focuses on the possibilities of disabled clients in the transition from institutional care to support provided within a community. The aim of the thesis is a deeper insight into the organization, which already deals with the above described transformation and evaluation of the positives or negatives of this process. This work has also an ambition to be at the same time a tool for those who are preparing for the transformation process and may have concerns or inadequate expectation from the planned changes. This text also evaluates the impact of transformation on the quality of life of the handicapped and the degree of gaining of independence by a subjective view of the client, five years after the beginning of the changes, and completion of the perception of these impacts by the guardian and the staff of the organization. The theoretical part of the text defines the concept of transformation, describes the transformation from the perspective of social services and describes the process of change in eight fundamental steps. It also summarizes the facts and figures of the current state, an overview of strategic documents for the transformation of social services, the possibilities of financial support for...

This diploma thesis, "Institute or field services?", deals with the topic of social services for people with intellectual disabilities. It focuses on the analysis of various types of social services - field, outpatient and residential services - due to the specific needs of different clients with intellectual disabilities. The aim of the thesis is to determine the structure of clients in residential institutions for people with intellectual disabilities and to identify factors on which families choose to use specific social services and determine the views of stakeholders in the field of social services on the benefits and limits of those types of services for people with intellectual disabilities. The issue of social services is assessed through the theoretical concept of rights of people with intellectual disabilities and the concept of de-institutionalization of social services. As a research method the questionnaire was used for providers of residential services in the capital city of Prague and interviews with various stakeholders in the field of services for people with intellectual disabilities. The conclusion discusses the most important issues in the care of people with intellectual disabilities and specific recommendations for improving the issue.

The most characteristic feature of the demographic development in the Czech Republic and other developed countries is population ageing. The aim of the thesis "The process and rate of disability among seniors" was to determine the extent to which disability interferes with the lives of the seniors and to map the development, progress and conditions of the pension system. After an introductory overview of basic concepts, a part of the thesis deals with a theoretical analysis of the European framework of social security of seniors and another part is concerned with the reform of disability pensions in the Czech Republic. The focus is also on the forms of care for disabled pensioners. The empirical part analyzes the areas related to the development of population structure, administrative agenda, overview of pensions according to the WHO diagnosis groups, total overview of disability pensions, the development of the structure of pensions, financing of pension administration, and the average age of retired people. The economic side is also included, where pensions are compared with average salary and also the economic activity of seniors. The research is quantitative and confirms the current global phenomenon of population ageing as one of the most important problems of developed countries. With this, old-age...

The researcher conducted a mixed method research study on parole violations from a South African perspective. In South Africa, there is limited research regarding the causes of parole violations. Thus, the study is mainly descriptive, but also exploratory in nature and considered a first of its kind. The study aimed to explore parole violation as a phenomenon through the perceptions, opinions, attitudes and incident recall of re-incarcerated parolees. Furthermore, the study aimed to describe the causes for parolees to fail on parole. A two-phase sequential mixed methods research design was used that involved the collection and analysis of primarily quantitative data from self-administered questionnaires. These questionnaires were complemented by a qualitative data collection phase consisting of focus group interviews. A representative sample (n=111) chosen according to the various ethnic groups was drawn from a population of 1 111 adult male parole violators in the Gauteng region (aligned to the regional divisions used by the Department of Correctional Services and not to the provincial borders) for the quantitative phase. Non-probability sampling was used to select 22 participants who volunteered for the second, qualitative phase of the study (focus group interviews). Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyse the data collected from the questionnaires. The data was analysed by means of frequencies (frequency tables and graphs) to describe one variable and cross tabulations (contingency tables) to show bivariate quantitative data. All the focus group interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. The transcripts provided a complete record of the discussions and helped to facilitate the analysis of the data according to identified, recurring themes. On release, many stigmatised and rejected parolees face widespread post-release challenges that prevent successful reintegration. The study revealed that poor pre-release planning and post-release support, a lack of education, unemployment, substance abuse, and a loss of family support are described as the main causes of parole violations. The recommendations from the research findings showed the importance of pre-release planning, risk assessment, employment, education, treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, community partnerships, family involvement, and graduated responses to parole violations that are fair, consistent, and legal. / Penology / D.Lit. et Phil. (Penology)

The thesis examine the process of rehabilitation offered by the Department of Correctional Service as from the time the offender is admitted (sentenced) until such time he is released back into society. Rehabilitation in the departmental context is based on four key delivery areas, which must be in place to ensure that offenders are rehabilitated. Faced with several challenges, e.g. demilitarization, structural defects of the facilities that are not conducive for rehabilitation or build for Unit management principles, career path developed for officials, and the transformation of the old penitentiary system to the new generation prison system, the department failed to achieve their objectives. The thesis will examine the current process of rehabilitation in the Department of Correctional Service, and identify areas of under performance to seek best practices to improve service delivery. The study will also focus on the readiness of offenders to be release as rehabilitated offenders and the After Care the Department provide to offenders upon their release. / Corrections Management / MA (Correctional Management)

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the implementation of, as well as identifying problem areas associated with the YES-programme offered by NICRO. This specific programme was chosen because most of the young offenders referred to NICRO complete this programme. Young offenders are referred to the programme by the magistrates' court. These are youth that have been arrested for petty crimes such as shoplifting, damage to property and possession of drugs. This programme is also aimed at first time offenders but it became evident throughout the study that these youths might have been arrested once but seems to have been involved in crime at some level prior to being arrested. Youth between the ages of thirteen and eighteen years are accepted into the programme, with exceptions sometimes made for nineteen year olds who are still attending school. Participation in the programme is strictly voluntary, but there must be an admission of guilt on the part of the youth before he/she will be considered for this kind of diversionary alternative. The programme attempts to involve both parent and child in the process of learning and therefore parents are required to attend the first and last sessions with their children. Sessions attended by parents. focus on the improving relationships and communication between parent and child. The programme is viewed as an alternative sanction, and will enable youth to be punished for their crimes whilst at the same time learning new skills, and most importantly, not gaining a criminal record. The programme stretches over eight weeks with weekly sessions that focus on self-concept, decision-making, children's rights and respecting both themselves and those around them. The researcher formed part of the process through both facilitating sessions as well as observing sessions. For these reasons the research methodology focussed primarily on participant observation and interviews. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie fokus op die proses van implementering en die identifisering van probleemareas binne die YES-program wat deur NICRO aangebied word. Die YES-program was spesifiek gekies omdat meeste van die jeugdiges wat na NICRO verwys word hierdie program voltooi. Jeugdiges word deur die hof verwys na die program wat dien as 'n afwentelingsprogram. Hierdie jeugdiges word meestal gearresteer vir geringe misdade soos winkeldiefstal, beskadiging van eiendom, en die besit van dwelms. Die jeugdiges word ook aanbeveel vir die program omdat dit hulle eerste arrestasie is, maar tydens die studie word dit duidelik dat alhoewel dit die eerste keer is dat die jeugdiges gearresteer word, dit nie hul eerste oortreding is me. Die program word beskou as 'n alternatiewe sanksie, en dit poog om die jeugdige te straf vir sy/haar daad maar ook terselfdetyd nuwe vaardighede aan te leer, en meer belangrik te voorkom dat die jeugdige 'n kriminele rekord kry. Die program strek oor agt weeklike sessies wat fokus op self-konsep, besluitneming, kinderregte en respek. Jeugdiges tussen die ouderdom van dertien en agtienjaar word verwys na die program, maar uitsonderings word ook soms gemaak vir jeugdiges van neëntienjarige ouderdom mits hulle nog skool bywoon. Die program poog om beide ouer en kind te betrek in die proses, en dus word ouers verplig om die eerste en laaste sessies saam met die jeugdiges by te woon. Die sessies wat deur die ouers bygewoon word fokus veralop die verbetering van verhoudings en kommunikasie tussen ouer en kind. Deelname aan die program is vrywillig maar die jeugdige moet skuldig pleit voordat hy/sy inaggeneem kan word vir die afwentelingsprogram. Die navorser het deel van die proses uitgemaak deur beide programme waar te neem sowel as programme te fasiliteer. Die navorsingsmetode wat dus benut was, was deelnemende waarneming sowel as onderhoudvoering.

When conducting research on crime, scholars are generally inclined to focus on the aetiology, hence our comprehension of biological and/or environmental factors as antecedents of crime. In this study, however, acknowledgement was given to ex-offenders who, once released from prison showed positive signs of disengagement from crime and posed the following questions: what are the lived experiences of ex-offenders who desist from crime and what are the reasons influencing their decisions to stop offending? Four adult male ex-offenders of African descent between the ages of 30 and 42 participated in the study. The researcher, inspired by his insider position as an ex-offender aimed to explore and describe the lived experiences of other ex-offenders who had stopped offending, or who were in the process of disengaging from crime. An interpretive phenomenological approach including three theories of criminal desistance were used to ground the study. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically. Results showed that the processes of criminal desistance are unique and contextual, particular rather than universal, and that change can be attributed to intra-individual factors facilitated by strong quality social bonds / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Text in English / South Africa has a high level of Crime and thus also has a high level of recidivism. The high rate of crime contributes to overcrowding in prison. The Department of Correctional Services has programmes for the offenders such as rehabilitation, parole, probation, re-entry and reintegration. These programmes are not effective to an extent that they are not changing the offenders’ behaviour. The qualitative aim of this study was to explore recidivism through the application of concepts and theories. The significant impact that rehabilitation, parole, re-entry, probation and reintegration exerted on recidivism cause more problems for the Department Correctional Services. Ineffectiveness of these programmes has a negative impact on the escalation of recidivism. The study revealed that programmes are not effective or adequate and that recidivism is the end-product. The recommendation from the study indicates that Correctional Services should encourage offenders to participate in these programmes. The department should also review policies on these programmes and align them with international standards. The study also recommended that more research needs to be conducted on recidivism in order to understand its impact into the community and Correctional Services. The recommendations on this study indicates that recidivists should have their own specific facilities and offenders that have committed different type of crimes be treated and offered a programme designed for a particular offender and not to use a “one size fits all” approach. / Corrections Management / M.A. (Corrections Management)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:42:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 COSTA_Lucio_2014.pdf: 1495926 bytes, checksum: 332ea16b46bc849d4aa06c806a74efaa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-25 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / - / A presente dissertação tem como foco central os aspectos da proteção e dos direitos das pessoas com transtorno mental em conflito com a lei. Marcada pelo binômio crime/loucura, esta população vem sendo mantida apartada do novo regramento legal que dispõe sobre as garantias e o modelo de atenção psicossocial no País: a Lei Nº 10.216/2001, mais conhecida como Lei da Reforma Psiquiátrica Brasileira. Essa legislação orienta em suas diretrizes uma terapêutica contrária à lógica de asilamento e de segregação, apontando o processo de desinstitucionalização como o mecanismo que deve pautar as políticas públicas na área. Entretanto, milhares de brasileiros marcados pelo estigma da loucura e da criminalidade permanecem esquecidos em espaços de confinamento penal e internação psiquiátrica. Uma experiência inovadora conduzida pelo estado de Goiás vem mudando esse paradigma: o Programa de Atenção ao Louco Infrator (PAILI). Pautado pelas diretrizes estabelecidas pela Reforma Psiquiátrica Brasileira, o projeto tem alcançado índices de reincidência que o distingue sobremaneira dos demais modelos operados na área, constituindo uma possibilidade real de transformação na perspectiva do lidar com o binômio loucura/crime. A partir de um trabalho de campo orientado por entrevistas, além de pesquisa histórica e diálogo com algumas das principais linhas teóricas na área, procuramos situar o PAILI no contexto da desinstitucionalização psiquiátrica e dos desafios ainda presentes à plena efetivação dos direitos dessa população.

The purpose of this study is to examine the level of social support in a sample of foster youth nearing emancipation. Additionally this study seeks to examine if a relationship between social support and anxious and/or avoidant attachment styles can be observed.