NCJ Number
177005
Journal
Crime Index Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: March-April 1998 Pages: 1-21
Date Published
1998
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Articles on crime and criminal justice in South Africa address police resource allocation, perception and reality regarding the crime problem, bank robberies, crime prediction, Parliament and crime issues, and the conceptualizing of corruption.
Abstract
The article on the distribution of policing resources in South Africa advises that although South Africa is not under- policed compared to other nations, some provinces in the country apparently have fewer resources when measured against population and crime levels. The second article compares the public's perception of crime in Cape Town, as well as its fear of crime, with police crime statistics. The article concludes that although crime levels in Cape Town are lower than in other cities in the country, the public believes that crime is getting worse, and the fear of crime is high. A third article focuses on the prevalence and seriousness of violent bank robberies in South Africa, particularly violent heists of cash-in-transit. A fourth article discusses whether crime can be predicted by providing an overview of the methods used in crime prediction and presenting actual predicted crime figures. It argues that crime can be predicted, but data accuracy and statistical techniques are of critical importance. A description of recent crime-related legislation passed by the South African Parliament focuses on three important laws that together form a three-pronged attack on serious crime. The final article provides an overview of a 1997 publication of a recently established anti-corruption non-governmental organization, which develops an annual profile on corruption and good governance in South Africa. The main aim of the publication is to begin to come to terms with the extent and nature of problems related to corruption and good governance by informing the general public, decisionmakers, and government managers about issues related to public corruption.