Criminal Justice

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/10530/431

Browse

Browsing Criminal Justice by Author "Mqadi, L.P."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A criminological perspective of juvenile crime at Emondlo
    (1997) Gibson, Mandlakayise Buthelezi; Mqadi, L.P.; Khoza, V.I.
    This study is based on the problem of juvenile crime in Emondlo. Statistics show that between September 1991 to end of August 1992, three hundred and seven (307) male juvenile offenders were arrested at Emondlo Township. This is against only 18 female offenders who were arrested during the same period. The investigation aims primarily at describing and explaning attitudes of residents to the aetiology of juvenile delinquency. It explores the attitudes of respondents towards the family, school, leisure time and peer group influence on delinquency. This study engendered the following findings: • gender does not influence the attitudes of respondents towards family on delinquency. • gender has a significant difference towards attitudes of respondents in school influence on delinquency. • gender has no significant difference towards attitudes of respondents in leisure time influence on delinquency. • gender has no significant difference towards attitudes of respondents in peer group influence on delinquency. • marital status has no significant difference towards attitudes of respondents in family influence on delinquency. • marital status has significant difference towards the attitudes of respondents in school influence on delinquency. • marital status has no significant difference towards attitudes of respondents in leisure time influence on delinquency. marital status has no significant difference towards attitudes of respondents in peer group influence on delinquency. language groups have significant differences towards the attitudes of respondents in family influence on delinquency. language groups have significant differences towards the attitudes of respondents in school influence on delinquency. language groups have no significant differences towards the attitudes of respondents in leisure time influence on delinquency. language groups have no significant difference towards the attitudes of respondents in peer group influence on delinquency. occupational categories have significant differences towards attitudes of respondents in family influence on delinquency. occupational categories have significant differences towards attitudes of respondents in school influence on delinquency. occupational categories have significant differences towards attitudes of respondents in leisure time influence on delinquency. occupational categories have significant differences towards attitudes of respondents in peer group influence on delinquency. age group is related to the attitude of respondents towards family influence on delinquency. age group is significantly related to the attitude of respondents towards school influence on delinquency. • age group is not significantly related to leisure time influence on delinquency. • age group is significantly related to peer group influence on delinquency. • educational qualifications towards the attitudes of respondents are not significantly related to family influence on delinquency. • educational qualifications towards the attitudes of respondents are significantly related to school influence on delinquency. • educational qualifications towards the attitudes of respondents are not significantly related to leisure time influence on delinquency. • educational qualifications towards attitudes of respondents are significantly related to peer group influence on delinquency. Recommendations are based on the role of the family, school, leisure time and peer group influence in crime prevention.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Fear of crime : a socio-criminological investigation
    (University of Zululand, 1998) Van Velzen, Frances Anne; Potgieter, P.J.; Mqadi, L.P.
    Each individual's personal security is basic to the quality of life of a community. If the quality of life is affected by crime or the fear of criminal victimisation, then both crime and the fear of crime should be viewed as a social problem. The fear of crime is the focus point of this study as it produces changes in the lifestyle of the individual and the functioning of the community. Fear of crime generates feelings of anxiety, general mistrust, alienation and suspicion. At a social level, it can lead to a break down of social cohesion, the curtailment of normal activities and an unwillingness to help others. The study aims at bridging the gap in our substantive knowledge regarding the fear of crime. Through the use of a questionnaire, the study further seeks to establish the following: * Statistically measure and describe the nature and extent of fear of crime. * Determine the factors affecting fear of crime. * Account for the differences and variations in the fear of crime according to age, gender, household composition and type of housing, previous victimisation, crime as a social problem, role of the police and community neighbourhood involvement. * Make non-prescriptive recommendations for the prevention of criminal victimisation that might directly influence the quality of life. Research techniques employed in the study included the following: * Literature study of research done on the fear of crime covering the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. * A structured questionnaire consisting of demographicai information and questions pertaining to the factors influencing fear of crime. * Non-probability sampling techniques. * Statistical techniques to test the reliability of the measuring instrument and ten formulated hypotheses. The findings of the study indicate the following: (a) Age is related to fear of crime. (b) Gender is the strongest predictor of fear. (c) Household composition* is related to the fear of crime. (d) No significant differences were found between the type of housing respondents live in and fear of crime. (e) In general, people who have been previously victimised are more fearful of crime then those who have not. (f) Concern about crime and fear of crime are related issues, as people who are concerned about crime, generally fear crime. (g) The role of the police has not proved to be a significant factor influencing the fear of crime of respondents. (h) Neighbourhood involvement tends to reduce levels of the community's fear of crime. The following non-prescriptive recommendations are made: * Improvement of the image of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is a necessity to foster confidence in and respect for policing. * Increased role visibility of the police. * Promotion of effective Neighbourhood Watch Programmes. * Active involvement of citizens in community policing forums.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The image of traffic policing in Transkei
    (University of Zululand, 1995) Kabingesi, Mlulami Goodenough; Potgieter, P.J.; Mqadi, L.P.
    This research aims at investigating the image of traffic policing in Transkei. To achieve this goal, questionnaires were distributed to a purposive sample of 600 respondents. Five towns whose people are exposed to traffic policing were targeted, namely: Umtata, Butterworth, Engcobo, Qumbu and Libode. The researcher personally collected the questionnaires. A total of five hundred completed questionnaires were collected. To achieve reliable results, Chi-square, F-test and t-test have been implemented to test for significant differences. The attitudes of the respondents have been measured with regard to two traffic institutions in Transkei, namely: Municipal and Provincial traffic institutions. Traffic order cannot be achieved in Transkei if a sound partnership between the traffic police and the public is lacking.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Perceptions of the role and function of the Venda police
    (University of Zululand, 1995) Makibelo, Mabel Maphuti.; Potgieter, P.J.; Mqadi, L.P.
    The police role appears to be a controversial issue since the evolution of modem policing in Great Britain with the establishment of the Metropolitan Police under the leadership of Sir Robert Peel in 1829. The South African Police Service. and in particular the erstwhile Venda police. are no exceptions to the rule. The primary aim of this investigation revolves around the statistical measurement of the perceptions and attitudes of respondents pertaining to the role and functions of the Venda police. For this purpose. a sample group of 406 respondents. Arbitrarily selected from four areas. namely : Thohoyandou, Makwarela, Sibasa and Shayandirna, were subjected to a closed. structured questionnaire regarding various aspects of the role and operational function of this independent police force. Statistical tests, such as the F-test, were implemented to test for significance and reliability of data obtained from questionnaires. The statistical results only represent the perceptions and attitudes of the research group towards the Venda police. The findings indicate: • that the majority of the respondents perceive the role and function of the Venda police as an important social service; • that both male and female respondents have significant different perceptions of the police role as it relates to the operational rendering of this social service function; •. insignificant differences between the various educational qualification groups pertaining to police partiality. abuse of power and authority, lack of knowledge and imperiousness on the part of the police are observed; • an unwillingness among the sample group to report crime to the police due to, inter alia. the inability of the police to effectively solve criminal cases, an arrogant attitude among police officials. etc.; and • that in general. the global image of the Venda police is somewhat negatively evaluated by the total research group. Recommendations are as follows: • the cultivation of a better understanding of the police role by means of facilitating closer contact and co-operation with the public; • to provide an improved social service to the public by means of rapid responses to calls for assistance and complaints; • establishing a police-citizen partnership in crime prevention by means of implementing a community style of policing; • improving the educational qualifications and training procedures of policemen.