A description and analysis of the outcomes of an experiment with Kohlberg's Just Community Approach in the development of moral judgements of francophone delinquents is examined. Data were collected from 12 adolescents ranging in age from 17 to 18 years and from 8 adult educators involved in the Just Community Program at Boscoville Center (Montreal, Qc.) which was implemented between October 1987-October 1988. / Kohlberg's Structural Issue Moral Judgement Interview and several questionnaires were administered and journals kept by the educators and the researcher. Analysis of these data allowed us to describe how the program was implemented and showed that the intervention appreciably increased the stage of moral judgement of participants and improved the "moral atmosphere" of the program. In comparison to previous evaluations of the Just Community Approach, this program had more impact on these outcomes. It is suggested that the effects of the program could be strengthened by more intensive training of educators.

M.A. / Diversion programs were created not only to provide a service to the person in conflict with the law but for society at large. South Africa is faced with a mammoth task of addressing the high crime rate in the country and more importantly to understand the need for these people to commit such crimes. We cannot work in isolation in addressing this global problem. We need to step back and take a look at the holistic picture before we can even conceptualize the aspects of crime. We are now living in an era where children are no more seen as the innocent, naïve angles that we once thought they were. Current day life experiences have thrown most of them into situations that provide them with no choice but to engage in criminal activities. This study is intended to look at the effectiveness of the diversion programs provided, namely Nicro’s diversion program so as to analyze whether it addresses the problem of recidivism. This study will attempt to provide a fresh perspective on some of the dynamics that a child in conflict with the law in this country is faced with. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the diversion program presented by Nicro, Johannesburg. The objectives are as follows: To peruse available literature relevant to the research topic. To collect quantitative data from the assessment reports of the RAR Centres and NICRO. To analyze and present the data in a manner that would allow learning and enhancement of knowledge in terms of children in conflict with the law. The essence of this knowledge would better direct and empower the diversion programs that are provided to children in conflict with the law. To identify the variables that may impact on the success or lack thereof in the diversion program e.g. educational level of offenders, family involvement in the diversion programs and racial classification.

M.A. / The aim of the thesis is to illustrate the process of developing a psychoeducational program as part of the rehabilitation and development of juvenile delinquents, through the effective use of music, art and dancing in a therapeutic context. The rationale of the program is to give delinquents the psychological freedom to express emotions in a functional and constructive way. Delinquents are described by Thorpe, Smith, Green, & Paley (1980) as socially and emotionally deprived. Art, music and drama has been shown to be not only a diagnostic tool, but also as being successful in therapy with children with behavioural problems, such CHAPTER 1 - BACKGROUND AND ORIENTATION as delinquency (Epanchin & Paul, 1987). Margaret Naumberg (1983, in Epanchin & Paul, 1987), a pioneer in art therapy in America, describes art as a way to bring clarity and order to mixed or poorly understood feelings. The focus of the following chapters will be on the explanatory models of delinquency, developments in the treatment of delinquency, as well as the process followed in developing the expressionistic program. Some of the factors influencing and enhancing the positive use of music, art and drama will also be given. The expressionistic program will be included in appendix A. It is hoped that this development will inspire the further development and use of the arts in the therapeutic and rehabilitation process.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Criminology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Teaching incarcerated adolescents can be challenging for teachers to gain students' attention while strengthening their character as part of their rehabilitation and re-socilizaton process.

Not available / text

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

Thesis (MA) -- Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABTSRACT: The aim of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) in a South African Youth Centre for young offenders, to which the court had sentenced them for two years. The study focused on the competencies and strengths of youth offenders, as well as on their capacity to find solutions to their problems, whilst being realistic and trying to accomplish positive change within the limits of the youth centre facility. An experimental and control group design was used in order to assess the impact of the therapeutic intervention. The effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated within three main domains of human experience: (1) subjective discomfort, (2) interpersonal relationships, and (3) social role performance. Two measures were used, namely the OQ-45.2 (outcome questionnaire) and unstandardised scaling questions relating to participants' personalised goals. Results show that no statistically significant improvement had occurred on the three measured dimensions. However, data obtained from the scaling questions reflected a more complete picture of the three areas of functioning identified and explored in this study. Improvement towards the achievement of young offenders' personalised goals seemed to be rapid at first, followed by a slightly slower rate of improvement and subsequent stabilisation. Scaling questions proved to be a useful technique for making complex aspects of these young offenders' lives more concrete and accessible to both the therapist and themselves. SFBT proved to be an effective method of intervention within group format in a facility for young offenders. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die navorsingsprojek was om die effektiwiteit van Oplossingsgerigte Terapie binne 'n Suid-Afrikaanse jeugsentrum vir jong oortreders, waartoe hulle vir twee jaar deur die hof gevonnis is, te evalueer. Hierdie studie se fokus was op die bevoegdhede en sterk punte van jeugdige oortreders, sowel as op hul vermoe om oplossings vir hul probleme te vind. Hierdie oogmerk was terselftertyd realisties in die poging om positiewe verandering binne die beperkinge van 'n jeugsentrum teweeg te bring. 'n Eksperimentele en kontrolegroepontwerp is gebruik om die impak van die terapeutiese intervensie te evalueer. Die effektiwiteit van die ingreep is ten opsigte van drie hoof areas wat verwant is aan menslike ervarings geevalueer: (1) subjektiewe ongemak, (2) interpersoonlike verhoudings, en (3) sosiale rolvervulling. Twee meetinstrumente is gebruik, naamlik die UV-45.2 (uitkomste vraelys) en ongestandaardiseerde skaleringsvrae wat verwant was aan deelnemers se persoonlike doelstellings. Resultate het getoon dat geen beduidende statistiese verbetering in die drie dimensies plaasgevind het nie. Data wat egter deur die stel van skaleringsvrae ingewin is, het 'n meer volledige beeld van die drie areas van funksionering wat in die studie geYdentifiseer en verken is, gereflekteer. Dit blyk dat die verbetering in die jong oortreders se persoonlike doelstellings aanvanklik vinnig geskied het, en gevolg is deur 'n effense stadiger tempo van verbetering en stabilisering. Volgens die navorsingstudie blyk dit dat skaleringsvrae 'n baie suksesvolle tegniek kan wees om komplekse aspekte van hierdie jong oortreders se lewens vir beide die terapeut en hulself meer konkreet en meer bereikbaar te maak. Dit blyk ook dat Oplossingsgerigte Terapie 'n effektiewe intervensiemetode binne groepformaat in 'n inrigting vir jong oortreders is.