M.A. / According to Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998, DCS has moral and legal responsibility over the parolees. Parolees are supposed to be reintegrated into the society, while still serving their sentences and ultimately become responsible citizens. Some of the parolees are unable to complete their parole sentences and end up re-offending. There are however some parolees who manage to complete their sentences successfully, despite the parole conditions and their personal circumstances. The researcher was interested in those parolees who completed their parole sentences successfully. The strengths perspective, together with other strength related theories, served as a theoretical lens that helped to identify and describe factors that enable parolees to complete their sentences successfully. A qualitative design and descriptive approach was employed. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. A sample of 15 parolees who had completed their sentences successfully was identified. Data were analysed using Creswell’s approach. It was found that factors such as employment, educational qualification, job skills, personal qualities, support, relationships and networking enabled parolees to complete their sentences successfully. Recommendations are made based on the findings.

This thesis is concerned with the problems of men discharged from prison on parole. The objective is to describe the broad contours of the subject and then to identify within these limits those problems of the parolee which appear most likely to affect his chances of successful rehabilitation. The major defects in our present system of parole are reviewed and some suggestions are offered for further research. This study is primarily exploratory in nature, as no attempt has been made to submit precisely formulated hypotheses to exact verification procedures. Ten major problems thought to be common to all parolees, their causes and their many ramifications are discussed. Extensive reference is made to previously published analyses of this subject. To supplement this discussion, various leaders in the field of after-care and several parolees were interviewed to provide further information for the analysis and illustration of the ten problem areas explored. The evidence gathered indicates that of the ten problem areas discussed, the problems of reintegration into the family and the community pose the greatest difficulty to the parolee and the after-care agencies; and that the other problems discussed serve in the main only to complicate these two critical areas. The study indicates that the key to solving these problems hinges on the parolee's mental picture of himself, which has been warped by his prison experiences. The study shows also that, contrary to public belief, rehabilitation generally starts only when the parolee is released, and not during incarceration. The value of parole lies in the fact that, through realistic and warm support, the parole supervisor can help the parolee to gain a better image of himself, and thereby assist him to meet the frustrations of social living in such a way as to allow and encourage emotional growth. The study shows a need for more realistic programs of education and training, as well as realistic pre-release programs for the inmate. Such programs would reduce the obstacles of rejoining the family and the community and help to reduce the tendency toward dependency shown by most parolees. Moreover, the study indicates that the success and the effectiveness of parole rests to a large extent on the attitude of the public. Without public good will corrections programs will never be able to succeed. This means that the objectives and results of good after-care programs must constantly be kept before the public in order to build their confidence in, understanding of, and support for these programs. The study shows the great need for further research in this field. Yet in the field of corrections and rehabilitation in Canada very little research has in fact been done. Some needed lines of research are indicated. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

This is one of the first studies made, in a rural area of British Columbia, of the co-operation between the Provincial Probation Branch and the Social Welfare Branch of the Government of British Columbia in the allocation of responsibility for the probation supervision of, and the casework services to, certain male juvenile delinquents. The juvenile delinquents under consideration in this study are those who were known to the Social Welfare Branch or who were in need of a specific service provided by that Branch at the time that they were brought before the Court. The research material was obtained from the files of one probation office and cover all cases opened over a three year period from 1953 to 1956. This probation office served a territory that was also served by one district supervisor and six welfare workers of the Social Welfare Branch. The study compares the characteristics of a group of 28 juvenile delinquents who were known to both the Provincial Probation Branch and the Social Welfare Branch with those of a group of 99 delinquent juveniles who were referred to the Provincial Probation Branch by the Juvenile Courts but who had no contact with the Social Welfare Branch. The groups are compared on the basis of age, offence, family background, religious affiliation, school record, work record and recreational interests. The study then presents seven case digests in detail, to show how the decision was reached between the probation officer and the welfare worker as to who would provide probation supervision, casework services to the child and casework services to the parents. These cases present a brief social history of the juvenile delinquent, a tentative social diagnosis of his troubles, an evaluation of his needs and a suggested solution to his problems. The results of the study indicate that there is no hard and fast rule to be used in allocating responsibilities towards the juvenile delinquents in the group under study between the two Government Branches. Each case must be considered on its own merits so that the agencies can cooperate to function in the best interests of the client. The usual social work practise of dealing with each client as a unique individual must be carried over into the field of corrections if the needs of the child are to be met by the social workers. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

Within the United States, probation has customarily been used as a way to divert offenders away from prison. Over the past two decades the number of offenders who are sentenced to probation has increased tremendously. While there have been more offenders sentenced to probation, there has also been an increase in the number of probationers having that sentence revoked. The most prevalent type of revocation is a technical revocation. Probationers receive technical violations culminating in a revocation when they fail to satisfy the conditions of their probation sentence such as attending rehabilitative programming. The present study adds to the literature on technical revocations by examining characteristics of felony probationers from a large Southern state who were revoked between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. Findings revealed that female probationers, older probationers, white probationers, and those probationers who had not completed high school were significantly more likely to be revoked for a technical revocation. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research based on these findings are discussed.

Afrikaans: Die effek van korrektiewe toesig op die eggenote of saamwoonmaat van die manlike toesiggeval en die gepaardgaande stigmatisering en viktimisering vanuit verskeie samelewingsisteme is tydens die navorsing verken. Parsons se Aigemene Handelingsteorie is gebruik om die studie te rig en die bevindinge te interpreteer. Die unieke wyse waarop elke gesinslid korrektiewe toesig beleef, is beklemtoon. In Ondersoekgroep van 20 respondente is deur middel van In sneeubal- en versadigingsteekproef-seleksie soos volg saamgestel: een respondent se eggenoot of saamwoonmaat het minder as vier maande korrektiewe toesig verrig, drie respondente se eggenotes of saamwoonmaats het tussen vier en ses maande korrektiewe toesig uitgedien, vyf respondente se eggenote of saamwoonmaats was reeds tussen sewe en nege maande met korrektiewe toesig besig, vier respondente se eggenote of saamwoonmaats is tussen tien en twaalf maande onder korrektiewe toesig, terwyl ses respondente se eggenote of saamwoonmaats al langer as een jaar onder korrektiewe toesig is. Navorser het tydens die studie van 'n konteksspesifieke metodologiese benadering gebruik gemaak, waarvolgens daar op die eggenote of saamwoonmaat se belewenis van korrektiewe toesig gefokus is. Uit die ontleding en analise van data blyk dit dat die toesiggeval se gesin en veral die eggenoot of saamwoonmaat deur persone in die samelewing (sosiale subsisteem) gestigmatiseer en geviktimiseer kan word. Sekere faktore wat 'n invloed op die respondent of haar gesin se belewenis van korrektiewe toesig kan hê, is geïdentifiseer, onder andere byvoorbeeld die wyse waarop die respondent of haar gesin van korrektiewe toesig as vonnis verneem het, die tydsduur van die hofverrigtinge, die lengte van die vonnis en die kategorie van korrektiewe toesig. Navonsingsbevindinge dui daarop dat die faktore 'n invloed op die gesin se belewenis van korrektiewe toesig kan uitoefen. Elke individuele gesinslid funksioneer binne 'n bepaalde gesins- en samelewingsopset wat kan veroorsaak dat die belewenis van korrektiewe toesig 'n effek op verskeie subsisteme kan hê, naamlilk die biologiese, persoonlikheid-, sosiale en kulturele subsisteme. Die manier waarop die samelewing teenoor die gesin van die toesiggeval optree, kan sekere handelinge by die respondent en haar eggenoot of saamwoonmaat tot gevolg hê. Die wyse waarop die eggenote of saamwoonmaat die invloed en interaksie vanuit elke sisteem beleef, bepaal die mate waartoe sy aanpas, haar doel bereik, met die samelewing integreer en gedragspatrone gehandhaaf word. Die behoefte van die eggenote of saamwoonmaat van toesiggevalle het duidelik tydens die onderhoude na vore gekom. Die bevindinge van die navorsing het dit moontlik gemaak om praktiese voorstelle met betrekking tot die eggenote of saamwoonmaat se belewenis van korrektiewe toesig te maak. Die samelewing behoort ingelig te word aangaande die aard, toepassing en realiteit van korrektiewe toesig as 'n alternatiewe vonnisopsie. Die bevindinge van die ondersoek beklemtoon ook sekere terreine en moontlikhede vir toekomstige navorsing. English: The effect of correctional supervision on the wife or partner of the probationer, as well as stigmatisation and victimisation was studied according to various systems in society. Parson's General Action theory was used to direct the research and the interpretation of data. The study highlighted the unique way in which each family member experienced correctional supervision. A group of 20 respondents was selected by means of snowball and saturation sampling methods as follows: one respondent's husband or partner had completed less than four month's correctional supervision, three respondents husbands or partners has completed between four and six months of correctional supervision, five respondents husbands or partners had been doing between seven and nine months, four respondents husbands or partners had completed between ten and twelve months and six respondent's husbands or partners had completed more than one year. A context specific methodological approach was used which focused on the experiences of the spouse or partner of the probationer during correctional supervision. The interpretation and analysis of the data showed that the probationer's family especially the spouse or partner experienced stigmatisation and victimisation by the society. Certain factors that can influence the respondent or her family, has been identified, for example the means by which the respondent has been notified of the sentence, the duration of the court cases, the length of the sentence and the category of supervision. Research results further showed that these factors could influence the way the family of the offender experienced correctional supervision. Each individual family member functions within a specific family and social system, which implies that the subsystems, for namely the biological, personality, social and cultural subsystems, can be influenced by the family's experience of correctional supervision. The means by which society reacts towards the family of the probationer, can have an effect on the actions of the respondent and her husband or partner. The needs of probationers' wifes or partners have clearly emerged through the interviews. These results have made it possible to advance practical recommendations with regard to probationers' families' experience of correctional supervision. Society should be informed about the nature, application and realities of correctional supervision as an alternative sentence. In addition, the results highlighted further areas and possibilities for future research. / Dissertation (MA (Criminology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Includes bibliographical references. / The following research presents an exploration on the role that competency assessments and competency reports play in child sexual abuse cases. This research is informed by forensic social workers in practice within the Gauteng Province. The respondents work both within government organisations and non-government organisations. This research uses a mixed methodology approach to explore practices around competency assessments and competency reports. The respondents completed two forms of data collection namely a survey and were part of a focus group which was conducted by the researcher. The findings therefore presents both quantitative and qualitative data, and are discussed to further elaborate on practices within the Gauteng Province. Conclusions and recommendations were made by both the researcher and the respondents, which are supported by the findings of this research and existing literature in the field.

Includes bibliographical references. / This study investigates the children's experiences whilst awaiting trial at Dyambu Youth Centre. DYC is the largest Youth Development Centre in the country, which serves involuntary clients. A qualitative research method was used to investigate whether the children in the centre do experience change, or does change come about as a result of other factors? Does staff succeed in transferring their skills and motivation to these children? Do the children feel they belong to DYC whilst awaiting trial? Seeing that a whole range of issues needed to be explored and investigated, interview schedules and focus groups were administered and the children's views about DYC had to be investigated from themselves, their parents, staff, volunteers and probation officers at court, who were responsible for their admission at DYC.

As restorative justice finds its way into the South Africa's thinking around improving the criminal justice system, there is little knowledge as to whether the key role players in a restorative justice approach, the victims and perpetrators, would find it desirable or feasible. Concerns around the appropriateness of restorative justice from the perspective of victims and perpetrators were born out of the complex social and historical context in South Africa, which it seemed, could pose challenges to the application of restorative justice. Hence the decision to consult with key role players who have had experience with crime and the existing criminal justice system on how they would perceive the concept of restorative justice as a means of dealing with criminal cases in South Africa. Given that restorstive justice has been proposed specifically for youth at this initial stage, the focus of the research was on criminal cases involving perpetrators below the age of 18 years. Through this process of consultation with victims and perpertrators of youth crime, the hope was to unpack some of the challenges and opportunities for restorative justice in South Africa. (133-139 pages missing).

In era of prevalent crime and social problems in South Africa, the National Department of Social Development; the South African Council of Social Service Professions and tertiary institutions are rethinking strategies to respond to these issues. A central strategy behind this is the development of forensic social work practice as a specialist service in order to assist the criminal justice system to deal effectively with offenders and protect victims. The aim of this study was to investigate the specialized skills and knowledge required for forensic social work practice in South Africa. Literature acknowledges that forensic social work is still a developing field of practice in South Africa hence forensic social work practitioners require effective training to competently practice forensic social work. The research design adopted by the study is a combination research design comprising of both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The research empirical data was obtained through the use of questionnaires from a survey conducted in Gauteng Province, South Africa at a forensic social work training workshop in 2013. The study indicated that forensic social work practitioners are familiar with some of the specialized skills such as language used in court, writing skills, communication and engagement skills and professionalism. The study also indicated that forensic social work practitioners are also familiar with some of the knowledge such as the definition of forensic social work, legal aspects, criminal justice system, courtroom procedures and knowledge required to act as an expert witness in court for forensic social work practice. However, despite this, forensic social work practitioners had inadequate training in the specialized skills and knowledge required to competently practice forensic social work in South Africa. In addition, the study showed that there are many challenges faced by forensic social work practitioners. Challenges include lack of resources, undermining of forensic social work practitioners by other professionals, adoption of international standards, registration, role specification and lack of collaboration with other professionals. The author recommended that forensic social work practitioners in South Africa require further training in legislation, policies and the specialized skills and knowledge relevant for forensic social work practice and finding solutions to overcome the challenges faced. Further research should be conducted in other provinces in South Africa for forensic social work.

The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of service providers on the availability and effectiveness of sexual violence interventions, services and programmes in De Aar. Participants were selected based on the nature of service they rendered to survivors of sexual violence. A qualitative study was conducted, using non-probability purposive sampling and snowball sampling. Data was gathered through a semi-structured interview. The study found protection services, medical and psychological interventions to be easily accessible to all survivors of sexual violence. Additional services were also found to be available to survivors of sexual violence, depending on their needs. Participants were all of the opinion that the needs of survivors were being met in De Aar. The data found the perceptions of service providers on the effectiveness of their interventions to be influenced by their adherence to regulations and training received through their organisations, in addition to personal steps taken to develop professional skills. The attitude of service providers and the co-operation of service users were found to hinder the effectiveness and consistency of prescribed interventions. Gaps found to be inherent in all organisations were lack of human and physical resources such as vehicles. Stakeholders were found to be ineffective in their communication and co-operation between stakeholders was inadequate. Challenges found to hinder help-seeking were the perceptions of the community of the South African Police Service and sexual violence in general. The survivors themselves were also identified as a barrier to intervention, as they might accept, reject or discontinue intervention without warning. Considering the aim and objective of this study, it can be concluded that there are services in place for survivors of sexual violence in De Aar. Immediate services, such as post-rape medical and legal services, are easily accessible. Follow-up and aftercare service are determined by a social worker and most organisations are effective in the services they render, despite organisational challenges and limitations.