A preliminary assessment of the implementation of the rehabilitation programme for offenders in the Boksburg management area

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Increasingly, concerns are being raised about the growing incidents of recidivism inSouth Africa. Of great concern is that reoffending often involves serious crimes suchas murder, rape, robbery and substance abuse. The main purpose of this researchwas to assess how well rehabilitation programmes are implemented in the BoksburgManagement Area, and to determine whether such efforts benefited offenders.Based on a qualitative case study design, data was collected from this area usingsemi-structured interviews, document analysis and observation in September 2013.Participants included programme officials, social workers, facilitators, casemanagers, inmates and representatives from participating NPOs and CBOs. A nonprobabilitysampling method called purposive sampling was utilised to construct thissample.The study used the 5C model as the basis for assessing the implementation of therehabilitation programme in the Boksburg Management Area and the followingfindings are as identified. Firstly, the officials are conversant with the goals of therehabilitation programme. The country's socio economic circumstances have aninfluence on rehabilitation as evidenced by the wide variety of projects offered,including literacy initiatives, bakery services, furniture manufacturing, and welding,landscaping and community-based agricultural projects. Commitment can beincreased and harnessed to obtain support for organisational ends and intereststhrough such ploys as participation in decisions and actions. Capacity is the key tosuccessful execution and sustainability of rehabilitative programme. Lastly, theoffenders as clients are the key beneficiaries of rehabilitation programmes and thatformation of alliances with civil organisations is critical for effective implementation ofrehabilitation programme.It was therefore concluded that while substantial gains had been realised inimplementing the rehabilitation programme, however more efforts were required toimprove access to rehabilitation services. Amongst other things, the studyrecommended that institutional capacity be improved to ensure that inmates benefitimmensely from the rehabilitation programme.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University