Criminal Justice

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Browsing Criminal Justice by Author "Mqadi, Langalibalele Prince"

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    A criminological investigation into the treatment of juvenile offenders at Vuma Reform School
    (1992) Mqadi, Langalibalele Prince; Potgieter, P.J.
    The investigation aims at analyzing, describing and explaining the treatment of juvenile offenders committed to Vuma Reform School by various South African juvenile courts. The analytical method of research is used to describe methods and programmes of treatment in order to gain insight into the treatment programme of Vuma Reform School. The documentary study technique, supplemented with an unstructured interview technique is used to analyse data consisting of one-hundred juveniles and sixty-six officials - The farmer were committed to the reform school between January 1988 and May 1990, and the officials are in employment by June 1990. Two institutions form the basis of treatment of juvenile offenders, namely the juvenile court and the reform school. Findings of the investigations are as fallows :— (a) The juvenile court has a significant role in adjudicating a convicted juvenile. The legal provisions of dealing with such juveniles and presentence investigation reports presented by social workers lay the foundation on which treatment should be based. (b) The majority of juvenile offenders under investigation were convicted of property re1 ated offences and, to a lesser extent, offences against persons and administration of justice. (c) Vuma Reform School's Internal structure consists of four divisions namely, the management, professional, administrative and auxiliary divisions. (d) The majority of personnel at Yuma Reform School are unqualified to carry out the treatment functions of the Reform School. Further, there is no psychological division to carry out psychological methods of treatment and psychological tests; and hence no vocational training programme is provided for. (e) The treatment programme of Vuma Reform School falIs into three phases, namely: admission, treatment and education and preparation for release. Each of these phases has individual programmes. For example, the admission phase has the reception and orientation programme; the treatment and education phase has academic and educational programmes, recreational, religious instruction, food and clothing, and discipline and control programmes. Lastly, the preparation for release phase has leave of absence, family units and correspondence and reconstruction services within the scope of treatment. Recommendations of the investigation are as follows :— (a) The status of the juvenile court should be upgraded, conditions of parental and legal representation of juveniles be reviewed and presentation of the presentence investigation report be made obligatory to all juvenile court trials. (b) Alternative sentences other than whipping be employed more oftenly by juvenile courts. (c) The composition of the Board of Management be broadened and training of personnel be adopted as a matter of policy. (d) The treatment programme of Vuma Reform School be improved by employment of clinical psychologists; provision of literacy classes for juveniles who need functional knowledge; provision of vocational training, improved recreational faci1ities and employment of a chaplain and active involvement of juveniles into the religious instruction programme.
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    Juvenile delinquency among secondary school children with reference to the influence of the family : a socio-criminological study
    (1994) Mqadi, Langalibalele Prince; Potgieter, P.J.; Sibaya, P.T.
    The study aims at studying and analyzing juvenile delinquency among secondary school children in Kwa-Zulu and the influence of the family thereupon. Through the use of a self-report survey the study seeks to establish the following - * sex and age differences with regard to juvenile delinquency; * family influence on juvenile delinquency by analyzing differences in family structure, family size and family economics; * the relationship between age, family controls and self-reported delinquency; and * nature and extent of juvenile delinquency through self-report data thereby bridging the gap between what is officially known and otherwise hidden forms of delinquency. Research techniques employed in the study include the following:-* * Literature study through which approaches to juvenile delinquency by other researchers were reviewed. * A self administered questionnaire consisting of personal particulars, family data and a delinquency check-list. * Sampling techniques through which three secondary schools and 560 respondents were selected. * Statistical techniques to test reliabi1ity of the measurement instrument and thirteen formulated hypothesis. The findings of the study indicate the following:- (a) Significant differences between male and female respondents with reference to self-reported delinquency. (b) Insignificant differences among age-group categories and delinquency; but positive relationship between age and juvenile delinquency. (c) Insignificant differences between family structure, family size, parental economic activities and juvenile delinquency. (d) Significant differences in the application of family controls in respect of male and female respondents and those from intact and broken families. This is, however, not the case with age-groups, family sizes and mother's economic activity. (e) The hypothesis relating to the relationship between family control and delinquency, in respect of family religiousness and parental discipline is supported. However a partial support with regard to parental supervision and affection is observed. The following recommendations are put forward:- (a) The family as a primary socialization unit be empowered by removing all factors that may contribute to family tensions, for example, unemployment and other related social pathologies. (b) The school is a secondary socialization agent, be revitalized. This can be achieved by means of upgrading the curricula and encouragement of close cooperation between the parents and the teachers. (c) The church and recreational facilities be used to improve the welfare of Black families by linking leisure activities to the youths' interests. The study succeeds in revealing the existence of "hidden" delinquency among Black secondary school children and important relationships between family and juvenile delinquency.