The views of social workers on diversion programmes for male juvenile delinquents

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Adolescence is a challenging development stage because youths engage in risk-takingbehaviour, including anti-social and criminal acts. Factors which contribute to youthbecoming involved in crime include having a poor self-concept, being male, the negativebehaviour of parents, family dysfunction, low socio-economic status, low literacy levels orbeing illiterate, peers who exercise a negative influence, and poor role models. Diversionstrategies are practised worldwide, including South Africa, to deal with the growing numberof youth in conflict with the law. After diversion practice was legalised in South Africa, somechallenges have been experienced with implementation. However, the views of socialworkers are limited regarding diversion practices after the Child Justice Act no 75 of 2008was introduced.The objective of the study is to gain insights from social workers who facilitate diversionprogrammes with male juvenile delinquents. In this study, attention was paid to explainingthe nature of juvenile delinquency of male adolescents in a South African context;describing diversion programmes in terms of the Child Justice Act no 75 of 2008 to deal withchildren outside the criminal justice system; discerning the scope, nature and contributionof diversion programmes for the rehabilitation of delinquents; investigating the views ofsocial workers on diversion programmes for male juvenile delinquents; and to makerecommendations regarding the facilitation of diversion programmes with male juveniledelinquents.A combination of quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used in the study.The study further assumed an exploratory and descriptive research design due to thelimited information available regarding the views of social workers on diversionprogrammes with male juvenile delinquents. A purposive sampling method was used toselect the participants. Data was gathered by means of a structured questionnaire, whichwas administered during 20 individual interviews. This allowed for a holistic view to begained of participants' opinions about and insights into the topic. The design of thequestionnaire was based on the information obtained from the literature review. Thefindings of the empirical investigation mainly confirmed the findings of the literature study that males are more vulnerable to juvenile delinquency, that parents and families playsubstantial roles in the causes of juvenile delinquency and, lastly, that diversionprogrammes offer much benefit to youth offenders.The most important recommendations resulting from the study indicate that social workersshould become more skilled and equipped to facilitate therapeutic groups as this willcontribute to the reduction of re-offending. Parental and family involvement in diversionprogrammes is essential as it will increase the impact on the youth offender. In addition, therecommendations indicate the significance of monitoring and evaluation of diversionprogrammes, in this way ensuring the proper implementation of the Act. Lastly, it issuggested that more research be done about diversion practices internationally to increaseknowledge regarding implementation.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University