The research into case management was made necessary by the emphasis that the South African prison authorities of today placed on the rehabilitation of offenders. The lack of respect for human dignity, the need to reduce crime in South African prisons and the successful reintegration of offenders into the community are some of the reasons why the research became important. The idea behind introducing case management is to bring back humanity to the offender; to make the offender part of a team which is working towards a mutual goal: to promote the well being of the offender. Topics addressed include the case management process as a sub-system of sentence planning, the role of the correctional officer and the role of the offender and the community in the successful implementation of case management in prisons. The philosophy of case management is also spelled out in the study, covering the implementation of case management within the criminal justice system in Australia, Canada, United States of America, South Africa and the United Kingdom. During any process of incarceration, documentation forms an integral part of the process and in the situation of the case management process, it is just as important. In this study, the researcher discussed those documents that form part of the case file and which play an important role in the successful implementation of case management. The importance of case management in prisons as well as the fact that it can be implemented without the support of the unit management approach cannot be overemphasised. The research contributes largely to scientific knowledge in stressing the importance of sentence planning for each offender within the Criminal Justice System. The case file, which includes the individual sentence plan and the active involvement of the correctional officer and the offender, forms a vital part of the management of the rehabilitation of the offender in today's prison systems. / Penology / D. Litt et Phil.

The research into case management was made necessary by the emphasis that the South African prison authorities of today placed on the rehabilitation of offenders. The lack of respect for human dignity, the need to reduce crime in South African prisons and the successful reintegration of offenders into the community are some of the reasons why the research became important. The idea behind introducing case management is to bring back humanity to the offender; to make the offender part of a team which is working towards a mutual goal: to promote the well being of the offender. Topics addressed include the case management process as a sub-system of sentence planning, the role of the correctional officer and the role of the offender and the community in the successful implementation of case management in prisons. The philosophy of case management is also spelled out in the study, covering the implementation of case management within the criminal justice system in Australia, Canada, United States of America, South Africa and the United Kingdom. During any process of incarceration, documentation forms an integral part of the process and in the situation of the case management process, it is just as important. In this study, the researcher discussed those documents that form part of the case file and which play an important role in the successful implementation of case management. The importance of case management in prisons as well as the fact that it can be implemented without the support of the unit management approach cannot be overemphasised. The research contributes largely to scientific knowledge in stressing the importance of sentence planning for each offender within the Criminal Justice System. The case file, which includes the individual sentence plan and the active involvement of the correctional officer and the offender, forms a vital part of the management of the rehabilitation of the offender in today's prison systems. / Penology / D. Litt et Phil.

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)

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)