No abstract available.

No abstract available.

Although interpersonal violence is the leading cause of nonnatural death among adolescents in South Africa, research is limited. This thesis examined homicides among adolescents (15-19 years) in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, during the period 2001 to 2009. It aimed to describe the incidence and epidemiology; depict the situational contexts based on victim, offender and event characteristics, and to develop a situational typology of adolescent homicides; and to identify the structural factors associated with neighbourhood levels of adolescent homicide within the city. Four separate studies were conducted using data from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS), police case records, and Census 2001. The results revealed an average annual homicide rate of 23.4/100 000, with firearm homicides decreasing considerably over the study period, while homicides due to sharp instruments and blunt force increased. The epidemiological results highlighted the vulnerability of male, and black and coloured adolescents. The typological analysis identified three categories of adolescent homicide, namely: 1) male victims killed by strangers during a crime-related event; 2) male victims killed by a friend/acquaintance during an argument; and 3) female victims killed by male offenders, and indicates the need for multiple and focused prevention strategies. Alcohol use was also prevalent, with 39% of the victims tested having positive blood alcohol concentrations (BAC). The characteristics found to be associated with alcohol-related homicides, specifically, male victims killed with sharp instruments in public places, over the weekends and during the evenings, and by a friend/acquaintance draw attention to both the harmful pattern of intoxication-oriented drinking and the risky situational contexts in which adolescents consume alcohol. Finally, the results also showed that the incidence of male and female adolescent homicides was greater in neighbourhoods characterised by poverty and deprivation, while female adolescent homicides were also higher in neighbourhoods marked by high concentrations of households where children were not living with their parents. Overall the results point to the urgent need for a comprehensive prevention strategy that targets adolescents, their families and communities, and also addresses weapon availability, alcohol use, and issues of masculinity and gender to reduce homicides among adolescents. / D. Litt et Phil. (Psychology)

Although interpersonal violence is the leading cause of nonnatural death among adolescents in South Africa, research is limited. This thesis examined homicides among adolescents (15-19 years) in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, during the period 2001 to 2009. It aimed to describe the incidence and epidemiology; depict the situational contexts based on victim, offender and event characteristics, and to develop a situational typology of adolescent homicides; and to identify the structural factors associated with neighbourhood levels of adolescent homicide within the city. Four separate studies were conducted using data from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS), police case records, and Census 2001. The results revealed an average annual homicide rate of 23.4/100 000, with firearm homicides decreasing considerably over the study period, while homicides due to sharp instruments and blunt force increased. The epidemiological results highlighted the vulnerability of male, and black and coloured adolescents. The typological analysis identified three categories of adolescent homicide, namely: 1) male victims killed by strangers during a crime-related event; 2) male victims killed by a friend/acquaintance during an argument; and 3) female victims killed by male offenders, and indicates the need for multiple and focused prevention strategies. Alcohol use was also prevalent, with 39% of the victims tested having positive blood alcohol concentrations (BAC). The characteristics found to be associated with alcohol-related homicides, specifically, male victims killed with sharp instruments in public places, over the weekends and during the evenings, and by a friend/acquaintance draw attention to both the harmful pattern of intoxication-oriented drinking and the risky situational contexts in which adolescents consume alcohol. Finally, the results also showed that the incidence of male and female adolescent homicides was greater in neighbourhoods characterised by poverty and deprivation, while female adolescent homicides were also higher in neighbourhoods marked by high concentrations of households where children were not living with their parents. Overall the results point to the urgent need for a comprehensive prevention strategy that targets adolescents, their families and communities, and also addresses weapon availability, alcohol use, and issues of masculinity and gender to reduce homicides among adolescents. / D. Litt et Phil. (Psychology)

This research was undertaken to establish the effect incarceration of individuals in the total institution called prison has on the incarcerated individuals. A literature study along with an empirical study, with 17 ex-inmates, was completed to explore the environment and circumstances of the institution called prison and the effect it has on the prisoners it incarcerates. Issues discussed include the prison environment, the prisonisation process, the inmate code and the process of incarceration. Also discussed are the presence, activities and influence of the gangs within the prison environment. It would appear that prison has a lasting effect on most prisoners and limited rehabilitative value, although there does appear to be some deterrence value. The subject begs further investigation, especially among a wider mix of inmate type, in order to deliver further recommendations to the South African Department of Correctional Services. / Social work / M.A.(Social Science)

This study examines offender assessment from a criminological perspective. International and national research findings, as well as the Canadian (Level of Service Inventory - Revised, LSRI-R) and the British (Offender Assessment System, OASys) offender assessment structures, are used as guidelines to illustrate the practice of offender assessment. Offender needs and risk assessment targets are examined and highlighted for general (non-specific) as well as sex and other violent offenders. A qualitative research design, supported by explanatory, descriptive and exploratory goals, directs the methodology of this research project. Important assessment tools, such as interviewing, observation, document analysis and the application of theoretical explanations are used to assess and analyse four selected case studies (adult male offenders). These case studies are representative of the different dimensions of offender assessment, namely classification, intervention, risk management and pre-parole assessment. The offenders are individually assessed, analysed and evaluated to determine among other factors, the origin, onset, contributory factors, triggers, high-risk situations, and intervention indicators that can assist custodial therapists and the prison authorities with a more focused approach to the rehabilitation and management of offenders. Each case study is also supported by a theoretical explanation. This highlights the key role, function and contribution of criminologists in corrections, as well as the importance of a multi-fold perspective in the rehabilitation and correction of criminal behaviour. / Criminology / Thesis (D. Litt. et Phil. (Criminology))

Afrikaans text / The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze a group of observation cases referred to a psychiatric institution through the criminal justice system by means of certain measuring instruments in order to determine on which grounds some of the cases were classified as criminals and others as state patients. The sample for the purposes of this investigation consisted of one hundred and forty-two cases referred to the Weskoppies hospital for psychiatric observation during 1988 to 1994. The measuring instruments were the South African Wechsler intelligence scale, the Rorschach projective technique and an information schedule which was used for the purpose of gathering biographical information and personal details of each particular case. The data collected through these instruments was statistically analyzed utilising frequencies and crosstabulations, chi-square tests, t-tests, correspondence analyses, factor analyses and regression analyses. The findings of this investigation revealed that crimes concerning personal relations and property crimes were more committed by criminals than state patients while crimes concerning communal life were encountered more amongst state patients than criminals. Non-person-directed crimes of violence were encountered proportionally more amongst state patients who had a history of substance abuse than in criminals with a similar history. State patients who had a history of substance abuse were proportionally more prosecuted on account of person-directed-crimes of violence than criminals with a similar history. The predictive measuring instrument developed by means of regression analysis indicated as important predictors three subtests of the South African Wechsler intelligence scale namely general information, digit-symbol substitution and picture arrangement as well as the variable "previous psychiatric treatment". The following recommendations were also made: The current endeavour to adapt the South African Wechsler intelligence scale for all population groups needs to be maintained and this adaptation should also be pursued in each country where the scale is used or was used in the past. It is advisable to draw up certain profiles of specific offenders by means of the Rorschach projective technique while the testing procedure should preferably be undertaken by the same researcher. Provision should be made that the accused be declared as state patients only on account of serious and violent crimes while the courts should have the right in appropriate cases to charge the accused with detention in accordance with chapter three of the Mental Health Act. The testimony of criminologists and psychologists should be added to the testimony of psychiatrists especially in cases of accountability or diminished accountability. The proposed predictive model may be further refined and adapted through the use of a larger, nation-wide sample resulting in the inclusion of a greater number of observation cases and variables. Due to the accelerating rate of revision associated with The DSM­ IV manual and the fact that its validity is questioned, ethically responsible psychiatrists, psychologists and criminologists are obligated to identify practices and procedures which threaten to misinform the legal system. / Die doel van hierdie studie was om aan die hand van bepaalde meetinstrumente retrospektief 'n groep observasiegevalle wat deur die regstelsel na 'n psigiatriese inrigting verwys is, te ontleed, sodat daar vasgestel kon word op watter gronde sekere van die gevalle as misdadigers en ander as staatspasiente geklassifiseer is. Die steekproef vir die doeleindes van hierdie ondersoek het bestaan uit honderd twee-en-veertig gevalle wat vanaf 1988 tot 1994 na Weskoppieshospitaal vir psigiatriese waarneming verwys is. Die meetinstrumente wat gebruik is, was die Suid-Afrikaanse Wechsler-intelligensieskaal, die Rorschach-projeksietegniek en 'n inligtingskedule wat biografiese inligting en persoonlike besonderhede van elke besondere geval ingewin het. Die gegewens wat uit hierdie meetinstrumente versamel is, is statisties verwerk met behulp van frekwensies en kruistabellerings, chi­ kwadraattoetse, t-toetse, korrespondensie-analises, faktoranalises en regressie-ontledings. Die bevindinge van die ondersoek het aan die lig gebring dat persoonverhoudings- en eiendomsmisdrywe meer deur misdadigers as staatspasiente gepleeg word, terwyl gemeenskapslewe misdrywe meer by staatspasiente as misdadigers voorgekom het. Nie-persoonsgerigte geweldsmisdrywe het verhoudingsgewys meer onder staatspasiente met 'n geskiedenis van substansmisbruik as by misdadigers met 'n soortgelyke geskiedenis voorgekom. Staatspasiente met 'n geskiedenis van substansmisbruik is ook verhoudingsgewys meer as misdadigers met 'n soortgelyke geskiedenis weens persoonsgerigte geweldsmisdrywe aangekla. Die voorspellingsmeetinstrument wat met behulp van die regressie ontledings ontwikkel is, het drie subtoetse van die Suid­ Afrikaanse Wechsler-intelligensieskaal naamlik algemene inligting, syfersimboolvervanging en prentrangskikking asook die veranderlike "vorige psigiatriese behandeling" as die belangrikste voorspellers uitgewys. Die volgende aanbevelings word ook hiermee gemaak: Daar moet volgehou word met die huidige poging om die Suid­ Afrikaanse Wechsler-intelligensieskaal vir alle bevolkingsgroepe in Suid-Afrika aan te pas asook met die aanpassing van die meetskaal vir elke land wat dit tans gebruik of in die verlede gebruik het. Dit is raadsaam om met behulp van die Rorschach projektiewe tegniek bepaalde profiele ten opsigte van spesifieke oortreders op te stel terwyl die toetsingsproses verkieslik deur dieselfde ondersoeker waargeneem word. Daar moet seker gemaak word dat beskuldigdes slegs in die geval van ernstige en gewelddadige misdade tot staatspasiente verklaar word, terwyl die howe die bevoegdheid kry om in geskikte gevalle te beveel dat beskuldigdes ingevolge Hoofstuk 3 van die Wet op Geestesgesondheid aangehou moet word. Die getuienis van kriminoloe en sielkundiges behoort bygevoeg te word by die van psigiaters en wel in gevalle waar toerekeningsvatbaarheid of verminderde toerekeningsvatbaarheid ter sprake is. Die voorgestelde voorspellingsmodel kan verder verfyn en aangepas word deurdat 'n groter, landwye steekproef van alle observasiegevalle getrek word wat uiteraard 'n groter aantal veranderlikes sal insluit. Weens die versnellingstempo van hersiening met betrekking tot die DSM-IV handleiding en die feit dat sy betroubaarheid bevraagteken word, word aanbeveel dat eties verantwoordelike gedrag aan die kant van psigiaters, sielkundiges en kriminoloe gevolg word sodat praktyke en prosedures wat die regstelsel kan benadeel, geidentifiseer kan word. / Criminology and Security Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Kriminologie)

This study examines offender assessment from a criminological perspective. International and national research findings, as well as the Canadian (Level of Service Inventory - Revised, LSRI-R) and the British (Offender Assessment System, OASys) offender assessment structures, are used as guidelines to illustrate the practice of offender assessment. Offender needs and risk assessment targets are examined and highlighted for general (non-specific) as well as sex and other violent offenders. A qualitative research design, supported by explanatory, descriptive and exploratory goals, directs the methodology of this research project. Important assessment tools, such as interviewing, observation, document analysis and the application of theoretical explanations are used to assess and analyse four selected case studies (adult male offenders). These case studies are representative of the different dimensions of offender assessment, namely classification, intervention, risk management and pre-parole assessment. The offenders are individually assessed, analysed and evaluated to determine among other factors, the origin, onset, contributory factors, triggers, high-risk situations, and intervention indicators that can assist custodial therapists and the prison authorities with a more focused approach to the rehabilitation and management of offenders. Each case study is also supported by a theoretical explanation. This highlights the key role, function and contribution of criminologists in corrections, as well as the importance of a multi-fold perspective in the rehabilitation and correction of criminal behaviour. / Criminology and Security Science / Thesis (D. Litt. et Phil. (Criminology))

This research was undertaken to establish the effect incarceration of individuals in the total institution called prison has on the incarcerated individuals. A literature study along with an empirical study, with 17 ex-inmates, was completed to explore the environment and circumstances of the institution called prison and the effect it has on the prisoners it incarcerates. Issues discussed include the prison environment, the prisonisation process, the inmate code and the process of incarceration. Also discussed are the presence, activities and influence of the gangs within the prison environment. It would appear that prison has a lasting effect on most prisoners and limited rehabilitative value, although there does appear to be some deterrence value. The subject begs further investigation, especially among a wider mix of inmate type, in order to deliver further recommendations to the South African Department of Correctional Services. / Social work / M.A.(Social Science)

Afrikaans text / The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze a group of observation cases referred to a psychiatric institution through the criminal justice system by means of certain measuring instruments in order to determine on which grounds some of the cases were classified as criminals and others as state patients. The sample for the purposes of this investigation consisted of one hundred and forty-two cases referred to the Weskoppies hospital for psychiatric observation during 1988 to 1994. The measuring instruments were the South African Wechsler intelligence scale, the Rorschach projective technique and an information schedule which was used for the purpose of gathering biographical information and personal details of each particular case. The data collected through these instruments was statistically analyzed utilising frequencies and crosstabulations, chi-square tests, t-tests, correspondence analyses, factor analyses and regression analyses. The findings of this investigation revealed that crimes concerning personal relations and property crimes were more committed by criminals than state patients while crimes concerning communal life were encountered more amongst state patients than criminals. Non-person-directed crimes of violence were encountered proportionally more amongst state patients who had a history of substance abuse than in criminals with a similar history. State patients who had a history of substance abuse were proportionally more prosecuted on account of person-directed-crimes of violence than criminals with a similar history. The predictive measuring instrument developed by means of regression analysis indicated as important predictors three subtests of the South African Wechsler intelligence scale namely general information, digit-symbol substitution and picture arrangement as well as the variable "previous psychiatric treatment". The following recommendations were also made: The current endeavour to adapt the South African Wechsler intelligence scale for all population groups needs to be maintained and this adaptation should also be pursued in each country where the scale is used or was used in the past. It is advisable to draw up certain profiles of specific offenders by means of the Rorschach projective technique while the testing procedure should preferably be undertaken by the same researcher. Provision should be made that the accused be declared as state patients only on account of serious and violent crimes while the courts should have the right in appropriate cases to charge the accused with detention in accordance with chapter three of the Mental Health Act. The testimony of criminologists and psychologists should be added to the testimony of psychiatrists especially in cases of accountability or diminished accountability. The proposed predictive model may be further refined and adapted through the use of a larger, nation-wide sample resulting in the inclusion of a greater number of observation cases and variables. Due to the accelerating rate of revision associated with The DSM­ IV manual and the fact that its validity is questioned, ethically responsible psychiatrists, psychologists and criminologists are obligated to identify practices and procedures which threaten to misinform the legal system. / Die doel van hierdie studie was om aan die hand van bepaalde meetinstrumente retrospektief 'n groep observasiegevalle wat deur die regstelsel na 'n psigiatriese inrigting verwys is, te ontleed, sodat daar vasgestel kon word op watter gronde sekere van die gevalle as misdadigers en ander as staatspasiente geklassifiseer is. Die steekproef vir die doeleindes van hierdie ondersoek het bestaan uit honderd twee-en-veertig gevalle wat vanaf 1988 tot 1994 na Weskoppieshospitaal vir psigiatriese waarneming verwys is. Die meetinstrumente wat gebruik is, was die Suid-Afrikaanse Wechsler-intelligensieskaal, die Rorschach-projeksietegniek en 'n inligtingskedule wat biografiese inligting en persoonlike besonderhede van elke besondere geval ingewin het. Die gegewens wat uit hierdie meetinstrumente versamel is, is statisties verwerk met behulp van frekwensies en kruistabellerings, chi­ kwadraattoetse, t-toetse, korrespondensie-analises, faktoranalises en regressie-ontledings. Die bevindinge van die ondersoek het aan die lig gebring dat persoonverhoudings- en eiendomsmisdrywe meer deur misdadigers as staatspasiente gepleeg word, terwyl gemeenskapslewe misdrywe meer by staatspasiente as misdadigers voorgekom het. Nie-persoonsgerigte geweldsmisdrywe het verhoudingsgewys meer onder staatspasiente met 'n geskiedenis van substansmisbruik as by misdadigers met 'n soortgelyke geskiedenis voorgekom. Staatspasiente met 'n geskiedenis van substansmisbruik is ook verhoudingsgewys meer as misdadigers met 'n soortgelyke geskiedenis weens persoonsgerigte geweldsmisdrywe aangekla. Die voorspellingsmeetinstrument wat met behulp van die regressie ontledings ontwikkel is, het drie subtoetse van die Suid­ Afrikaanse Wechsler-intelligensieskaal naamlik algemene inligting, syfersimboolvervanging en prentrangskikking asook die veranderlike "vorige psigiatriese behandeling" as die belangrikste voorspellers uitgewys. Die volgende aanbevelings word ook hiermee gemaak: Daar moet volgehou word met die huidige poging om die Suid­ Afrikaanse Wechsler-intelligensieskaal vir alle bevolkingsgroepe in Suid-Afrika aan te pas asook met die aanpassing van die meetskaal vir elke land wat dit tans gebruik of in die verlede gebruik het. Dit is raadsaam om met behulp van die Rorschach projektiewe tegniek bepaalde profiele ten opsigte van spesifieke oortreders op te stel terwyl die toetsingsproses verkieslik deur dieselfde ondersoeker waargeneem word. Daar moet seker gemaak word dat beskuldigdes slegs in die geval van ernstige en gewelddadige misdade tot staatspasiente verklaar word, terwyl die howe die bevoegdheid kry om in geskikte gevalle te beveel dat beskuldigdes ingevolge Hoofstuk 3 van die Wet op Geestesgesondheid aangehou moet word. Die getuienis van kriminoloe en sielkundiges behoort bygevoeg te word by die van psigiaters en wel in gevalle waar toerekeningsvatbaarheid of verminderde toerekeningsvatbaarheid ter sprake is. Die voorgestelde voorspellingsmodel kan verder verfyn en aangepas word deurdat 'n groter, landwye steekproef van alle observasiegevalle getrek word wat uiteraard 'n groter aantal veranderlikes sal insluit. Weens die versnellingstempo van hersiening met betrekking tot die DSM-IV handleiding en die feit dat sy betroubaarheid bevraagteken word, word aanbeveel dat eties verantwoordelike gedrag aan die kant van psigiaters, sielkundiges en kriminoloe gevolg word sodat praktyke en prosedures wat die regstelsel kan benadeel, geidentifiseer kan word. / Criminology and Security Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Kriminologie)