M.A. / The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has adopted legislation that advocates for the rehabilitation and humane treatment of offenders. However, high incidences of assault and inhumane treatment of inmates by correctional officials were reported between 2005 and 2006. Furthermore the statistics of recidivism in South African Correctional Institutions is estimated to be more than 50% indicating that the rehabilitation of inmates in correctional institutes is of limited success. The aim of this study is to provide some insight into the ill-treatment of offenders as well as the rationale behind the high rate of recidivism in the South African Correctional institution by exploring the attitudes of correctional officials towards the rehabilitation and humane treatment of offenders. Understanding the attitudes of the correctional officials could be a crucial first step in understanding the ill-treatment and abuse of offenders by correctional officials and the limited success of offender rehabilitation as these attitudes have the potential to promote or hinder the successful implementation of the new legislation in this regard. An exploratory research survey was conducted among a sample of correctional officials at Leeuwkop Correctional Institution. The sample consisted of 121 male and 61 female correctional officials. The participants were selected from all major racial groups in South Africa (black, white, coloured and indian). Data was collected by means of a survey questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed by the researcher to elicit the overall attitude of correctional officials towards rehabilitation and humane treatment of offenders (whether it was positive or negative). In addition the factors that could potentially influence the attitude of correctional officials towards rehabilitation and humane treatment of offenders were also investigated. The results revealed that correctional officials have an overall positive attitude towards rehabilitation and humane treatment of offenders. Furthermore it was revealed that factors like gender, age, educational qualification, work experience and the type of offender under the correctional officials’ care have no impact on the attitudes of correctional officials towards rehabilitation and humane treatment of offenders. It was noted that some of these factors have no influence on the attitude of correctional officials when examined individually, however when some of the factors are correlated they have an impact on the attitude of correctional officials.

Service provision in both adult and juvenile correctional settings is an understudied phenomenon. Research has evaluated the use of evidence-based practices (EBP) in the treatment of mental health and substance abuse among adults and juveniles. Young, Farrell, Henderson and Taxman (2009) highlight the role of organizational factors including climate and culture, opportunities for staff training, resources, administrator attitudes and interagency collaboration in the application of EBP in correctional settings. The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) aims to provide services to youth under the guise of EBP. Literature in the field of juvenile justice is limited in scope in areas of organizational factors, which are likely to influence the allocation of mental health treatment to youth. This study addressed this gap in existing research by using thematic analysis of focus group data with 28 OYA employees representing seven facilities. Data on 594 youth is offered to illustrate the variability of youth characteristics in OYA facilities. Facility data reflective of youth management and operations is presented to suggest context for staff observations and perceptions of how youth are identified for treatment. Results indicate staff knowledge about treatment and consistency in training along with frequency of organizational change affect climates in which treatment recommendations are made. Findings from this study will be beneficial to OYA as they attempt to meet the growing needs of mental health populations and address ongoing changes to agency staff, culture and climate. Implications from this study will contribute to literature on treatment service provision in juvenile correctional settings.