The inmates who are serving life imprisonment are provided with the treatment programmes throughout their incarceration period until they are released from custody. In addition, they are afforded with their primary and secondary needs in prisons. Before the lifers are released from prison, pre-release programmes are presented to them in order to facilitate their reintegration process into the community. After the lifers are released from prisons on parole, the community corrections offices further facilitate their reintegration process into the community. / Penology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Penology)

PhD (Health Sciences ) / Department of Psychology / The rate of incarceration is historically high. Increasingly, research points to the negative effects of incarceration among offenders, particularly in adult facilities. Literature published since 2000 suggests that incarceration fails to meet the developmental and criminogenic needs of offenders and is limited in its ability to provide appropriate rehabilitation. Incarceration often results in negative behavioural and mental health consequences such as suicidal thoughts and attempts. Suicide is often the single most common cause of death in correctional settings. The psychological impact of incarceration and its implications for post-prison, free world adjustments are substantial. The severe behavioural problems of offenders are a result of complex and interactive individual and environmental factors which elicit and maintain offending behaviour. The study sought to develop a model to facilitate effective psychological services among offenders in long-term incarceration correctional services. The study consisted of two phases, namely the empirical phase and conceptualisation phase. In phase one, which was the empirical phase, a qualitative approach was employed. The study utilised phenomenological, explorative, and contextual designs. The study population comprised of male offenders who were serving their long-term incarceration in the Vhembe District at Limpopo Province. Thirty offenders and one clinical psychologist were purposively selected. Data were collected from participants using semi-structured interviews. In-depth information about their experiences physical and mental risks of being incarcerated, as well as the coping mechanisms they used during incarceration was collected. Unstructured interviews were used to collect information about psychological services that are being rendered at correctional centres and their effectives from the only psychologist who participated in the study. Field notes as well as observations were also used methods of data collection. Data analysis was done using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Thematic data analysis. Relevant ethical principles were adhered to. Informed consent was sought from participants prior to the commencement of the study. The study further maintained the aspect of confidentiality and privacy since it was dealing with human subjects and sensitive issues. Issues of trustworthiness; credibility, dependability, transferability and conformability were ensured. The study findings revealed that most of the offenders were not very happy with the kind of mental health services they received from the correctional centres. They reported that correctional centres had a potential to make one totally insane. However, for one to make sense of what is happening at the correctional centres, one would need to receive mental vi health services. Furthermore, the study also discovered that one of the correctional centres is not providing offenders with mental health services and this makes it difficult for offenders to cope with their long-term incarceration since rehabilitation is not taking place. Findings also showed that offenders in one of the two centres were at a greater risk of contracting communicable diseases at the correctional centre due to overcrowding, poor health care system and poor hygiene. Concept analysis was done using Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach, (1968) guidelines. The framework adopted six guidelines that were used in theory development. A model was developed using the Walker and Avant (1995) framework to enhance the effectiveness of facilitation of psychological services at Thohoyandou correctional services and Kutama-Sinthumule Maximum correctional centre. The researcher recommends that mental health policies should be implemented to enhance and scale up mental health services in both correctional centres. / NRF

Since the Department of Correctional Services has been transformed into an institution of rehabilitation and the promotion of corrections has become a societal responsibility, there is a new dimension to the classification system whereby offenders are separated according to their potential for treatment and training programmes. Research into offender classification as a tool to rehabilitate offenders in corrections was necessitated by the way in which assessment was used for classification. Corrections uses offender files as the only determinant of classification assessment. Simply investigating offender files and observing classification hearings does not reveal the full aspects of the character of the offender as an individual. Corrections does not use qualitative research to gain an understanding of real issues faced by the offender. The problems with classification are also quantity assessments that are too narrow. Most correctional institutions believe that better data and statistical analysis will in one way or the other improve the situation for offenders and correctional officials. Staffs have limited skills and lack the appropriate training to support the rehabilitation of offenders. This remains an obstacle to the delivery and transformation of the department and implies that there is ineffective treatment of offenders. The increasing dissatisfaction with treatment and rehabilitation services available to offenders in South African prisons can result in an increase in recidivism. All of the above are reasons why this research became important. The investigation contributes largely to scientific knowledge regarding the importance of classification for each individual within corrections. In this research the extent to which classification treatment rehabilitation arrangements are based on the concept of differential treatment is studied. This implies that offenders' needs and problems must be specific and treated on an individualised basis. This study focuses on classifying offenders as a means to rehabilitate them effectively. Particular emphasis will be placed on philosophical approaches, theoretical frameworks and the effectiveness of offenders' treatment through the utilisation of reliable assessment tools. This research was conducted through an extensive literature study by examining offender classification as a rehabilitation tool from a Penological perspective. International and national approaches as well as standards for the treatment of offenders and a range of rehabilitation programmes were also studied. / Department of Penology / M.A. (Penology)

Text in English, abstract in English, Zulu and Afrikaans / Globally there has been a rise in the population of incarcerated women over recent decades. Yet, despite this increase, female offenders only represent about 5% of the total incarcerated population. South Africa is no different – female offenders on average total less than 3% of the incarcerated population in South Africa, one of the ten largest correctional systems in the world. This small representation of women in the correctional system often leads to the interpretation that their pathways to offending and experiences of incarceration are the same as those of male offenders, delegitimising any role that gender may play in offending behaviour. The research topic of this doctoral study aims to investigate whether these women’s symbolic or pragmatic status as mothers motivated their crimes and how this occurrence may argue that the socioeconomic challenges faced by these women play a role in their criminalisation. By utilising a feminist pathways research approach, the unlawful actions of seventeen women incarcerated in the Johannesburg Female Correctional Centre is contextualised and reveals conduits to women’s incarceration that primarily involve victimisation and socially constructed “gendered vulnerabilities” that are indissolubly interconnected with poverty and oppression. As seen through their life history narratives, this confluence of factors, coupled with fulfilling the dual roles of provider and caregiver as a mother, contribute to their pathway to offending. Ultimately the research allows for a gender-sensitive analysis of the unique challenges incarcerated women in South Africa face, and the role agency and patriarchy has played in their pathways taken. / Isihloko: Inhlawulo yokuba ngumama – ukuhlolisisa izimo zokuba ngomama okudlula kuzo abantu besifazane baseNingizimu Afrika ababoshiwe njengento ewumzila obaholela ekwephuleni umthetho. Isishayelelo ngokufingqiwe: Emhlabeni jikelele, kulawa mashuminyaka asanda kudlula sandile isibalo sabesifazane ababoshiwe. Yize kunalokho kwenyuka kwesibalo, abesifazane abasuke bephule umthetho bayingxenye ethi ayibe ngama-5% enani selilonke labantu ababoshiwe. NeNingizimu Afrika nayo akwehlukile kuyo, kubantu ababoshiwe lapha eNingizimu Afrika abesifazane balinganiselwa kuma-2.2% kuphela esamba sesisonke sabantu ababoshiwe, kanti futhi iNingizimu Afrika iyingxenye yalezo eziyishumi okuyizona ezinkulu kunazo zonke emhlabeni kwezokuqondisa izigwegwe. Lesi sibalo esincane sabesifazane abasezindaweni zokuhlumelelisa izimilo sivamise ukuhunyushwa kuthiwe leyo mizila yempilo ebaholela ekuphuleni umthetho kanye nezimo abadlula kuzona ngenkathi beboshiwe iyefana neyabesilisa abasuke bephule umthetho, ngalokho bese lingashaywa ndiva noma iliphi iqhaza lezobulili kulezo zenzo zokwephula umthetho. Okokuqala, lesi sihloko esihlongoziwe salolu cwaningo lweziqu zobudokotela sihlose ukucacisa ubunjalo bezimpawu zomuntu ngamunye futhi nalezo zinto ezihambelana ngokufanayo kubantu besifazane abasezindaweni zokuhlumelelisa izimilo eNingizimu Afrika. Okwesibili, kuhloswe ukucubungulisisa ukuthi ngabe lesi simo abazithola bekusona njengabantu abangomama akusona yini noma cha esadala ukuthi benze lawo macala, kanye nokuthi ekwenzekeni kwalokho, zizathu zini ezingaba khona zokuthi izinselelo kwezenhlalo nezomnotho ezibhekana nalaba bantu besifazane yizona eziba negalelo lokuthi bazithole sebengene kwizenzo zokwephula umthetho. Ngokusebenzisa indlela yokucwaninga evuna amalungelo nesimo sabesifazane, lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuthi ekugcineni kube nokuziqondisisa izinto ezenzeka kumuntu ngayedwana kanye nakumphakathi, okuyizona zinto ezidala ukuthi laba bantu besifazane bagcine sebeqe inqubo elandelwayo emphakathini. Ngokusebenzisa ingxoxo-mibuzo ecubungula umlando wempilo, ngalokho kubhekisiswa ukungena ezenzweni zokwephula umthetho kwabantu besifazane abayishumi nesikhombisa ababoshwe eSikhungweni Sabesifazane Sokuhlumelelisa Izimilo saseJohannesburg, ngokubheka ubunjalo besimo okwenzeka ngaphansi kwaso lokho kwephulwa komthetho. Lokhu kuveza ithuba lokuhlaziya ngokusebenzisa indlela ebhekela ezobulili mayelana nezinselelo ezingefaniswe nalutho ababhekana nazo abesifazane ababoshiwe eNingizimu Afrika, futhi ngalokho-ke bese kunikwa laba bantu besifazane ulwazi lokuguqula izindlela abasuke sebehamba ngazo. Izindikimba ezingumongo: UMnyango Wezokuhlumelelisa Izimilo, iNingizimu Afrika, owesifazane ophule umthetho, isifundo sezobugebengu eseibhekelela ezobulili, izimo ophile kuzona, imizila eholela ekwephuleni umthetho, ingxoxomibuzo mayelana nomlando ngempilo, isayikholoji, ezobulili, indaba yezinto ezihambelanayo. / Titel: Die straf van moederskap – verkenning van die moederskapervaring van vroue in gevangeskap in Suid-Afrika se ervaring as 'n pad tot midaad Abstrak: Daar was die afgelope dekades wêreldwyd 'n toename in die populasie van vroue in gevangeskap. Ten spyte van die toename, verteenwoordig vroue slegs omtrent 5% van die totale populasie in gevangeskap. Suid-Afrika is in geen opsig anders nie – vroue-oortreders verteenwoordig gemiddeld slegs 2.2% van die populasie in gevangeskap in Suid-Afrika met een van die tien grootste korrektiewe stelsels in die wêreld. Hierdie klein verteenwoordiging van vroue in die korrektiewe stelsel lei dikwels tot die verklaring dat hul pad na oortreding en ervaring van gevangeskap dieselfde as dié van manlike oortreders is, wat enige rol wat gender ook al mag speel ongegrond maak. Die onderwerp van die navorsing wat vir die doktorale studie voorgestel is, is eerstens daarop gemik om die individuele kenmerke en dit wat vroue in gevangeskap in Suid-Afrika se korrektiewe fasiliteite gemeen het, uit te stip. Dit is tweedens daarop gemik om te verken of hierdie vrouens se simboliese of pragmatiese status as moeders hul misdade motiveer het, en hoe daar as gevolg van die voorkoms geredeneer kan word dat die sosioekonomiese uitdagings wat deur die vroue in die gesig gestaar word 'n rol in kriminalisering speel. Deur die feministiese benadering van navorsing te volg, word daar met dié studie daarop gemik om uiteindelik 'n begrip te vorm van individuele en sosiale prosesse wat daartoe lei dat hierdie vroue sosiale norme oortree. Deur lewensgeskiedenisonderhoude te gebruik, word die kriminalisering van die handelinge van 17 vroue in gevangeskap in Johannessburg se korrektiewe sentrum vir vroue gekontektualiseer. Dit bied geleentheid vir 'n gendersentitiewe ontleding van die unieke uitdagings wat vroue in gevangeskap in Suid-Afrika in die gesig staar, en voorsien vroue van die kennis om alternatiewe paaie te volg. Kerntemas: Departmenent van Korrektiewe Dienste, Suid-Afrika, vroueoortreder, feministiese kriminologie, geleefde ervaring, pad na misdaad, lewensgeskiedenisonderhoude, sielkunde, gender, narratief. / Psychology / D. Phil (Psychology)

This study focuses on Steve Biko’s Africana existential phenomenology, with particular emphasis on the themes of blackness, black solidarity and liberation. The theoretical foundation of this thesis is Africana existential phenomenology, which is used as a lens to understand Biko’s political thought. The study argues that thematic areas of blackness, black solidarity, and liberation are inherent in Africana existential phenomenology. These thematic areas give a better understanding of existential questions of being black in the antiblack world. What is highlighted is the importance and the relevance of the revival of Biko’s thinking towards creating other modes of being that are necessary for the actualisation of blacks as full human subjects. / Political Sciences / M.A. (Politics)

Since the Department of Correctional Services has been transformed into an institution of rehabilitation and the promotion of corrections has become a societal responsibility, there is a new dimension to the classification system whereby offenders are separated according to their potential for treatment and training programmes. Research into offender classification as a tool to rehabilitate offenders in corrections was necessitated by the way in which assessment was used for classification. Corrections uses offender files as the only determinant of classification assessment. Simply investigating offender files and observing classification hearings does not reveal the full aspects of the character of the offender as an individual. Corrections does not use qualitative research to gain an understanding of real issues faced by the offender. The problems with classification are also quantity assessments that are too narrow. Most correctional institutions believe that better data and statistical analysis will in one way or the other improve the situation for offenders and correctional officials. Staffs have limited skills and lack the appropriate training to support the rehabilitation of offenders. This remains an obstacle to the delivery and transformation of the department and implies that there is ineffective treatment of offenders. The increasing dissatisfaction with treatment and rehabilitation services available to offenders in South African prisons can result in an increase in recidivism. All of the above are reasons why this research became important. The investigation contributes largely to scientific knowledge regarding the importance of classification for each individual within corrections. In this research the extent to which classification treatment rehabilitation arrangements are based on the concept of differential treatment is studied. This implies that offenders' needs and problems must be specific and treated on an individualised basis. This study focuses on classifying offenders as a means to rehabilitate them effectively. Particular emphasis will be placed on philosophical approaches, theoretical frameworks and the effectiveness of offenders' treatment through the utilisation of reliable assessment tools. This research was conducted through an extensive literature study by examining offender classification as a rehabilitation tool from a Penological perspective. International and national approaches as well as standards for the treatment of offenders and a range of rehabilitation programmes were also studied. / Department of Penology / M.A. (Penology)

MPH / Department of Public Health / See the attached abstract below

Department of Criminal Justice / See the attached abstract below