Juvenile diversion
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Date
2002
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Abstract
The present study entails a statistical description of juvenile diversion in Durban, KwaZuIu-Natal. The handling and treatment of juvenile offenders remains a considerable problem to governments across the world. South Africa is no exception to the rule. In the past, thousands of teenagers who committed crime ended up in gaol and have been kept there for months - in most cases together with adult prisoners - awaiting their trial. Whenever they appeared in criminal courts they were seldom legally represented. For centuries, imprisonment and whipping of juvenile delinquents have been standard sentences handed down by the courts.
Lately, diversion of juvenile offenders as an alternative form of dealing with problem youth outside the forma! justice system gained increased momentum. TTie National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO) was established and instituted as a South African Prisoners Aid Association, charged with the treatment of juvenile offenders diverted to it by the Youth Court with the primary objective of successfully treating and reintegrating such offenders back into the community as worthwhile citizens.
This study is based on a statistical analysis of 275 cases of diversion at NICRO's Durban office during a six-month period, namely 1 July to 31 December 2000, for which purposes a specially devised information schedule was developed and used as a data capturing instrument.
The study aims were as follows:
• To render a theoretical exposition of the nature and extent of juvenile justice in South Africa.
• To render a theoretical exposition of juvenile diversion as an alternative to formal treatment and handling of juvenile offenders as well as the role of the National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO) in this regard.
• To provide statistical information regarding juveniles diverted to NICRO in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
Data show that -
• Durban youth court diverted the largest number juvenile offenders to NICRO (69.45%).
• Most diverted juvenile offenders resided at Umlazi (32.0%), just south of Durban.
• Only 23 juveniles live| with either one or both their biological parents.
• Sixty-one juveniles came from a four-child family.
• In 30 cases investigated were the juvenile offenders a "first child" in the family.
• Theft seems to be the most popular crime committed by most diverted juveniles (80.0%), followed by drug offences (7.0%).
• Two-hundred and forty out of275 juveniles diverted to NICRO were in fact "accepted" for treatment and rehabilitation by this institute.
• The fact that juveniles did not want to accept responsibility for their criminal actions was the most popular reason for not having been accepted by NICRO.
• About 76.0% of the juveniles diverted to NICRO were accommodated under the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES).
• Just over two-thirds of the juveniles were from incomplete families.
• In 48.0% of the cases was only one of the parents employed.
Recommendations that were put forward are firmly based on statistical information forthcoming from this investigation.
Description
Submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Mater of Arts in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2002.
Keywords
Juvenile offenders