NCJ Number
198198
Date Published
2000
Length
86 pages
Annotation
This report describes and evaluates the laws, policies, programs, and strategies that are currently undertaken in South Africa in an effort to reduce crime and the mistreatment of offenders.
Abstract
Major transformations of government and policy have been taking place in South Africa. Poverty remains one of the most pressing and prevalent problems in South Africa. As such, decreasing the incidence and severity of poverty is one of the government’s central goals. The report explains that poverty is closely linked to racism, sexism, and crime. As part of the transformation of government and policy, a new coordinated approach has been undertaken in South Africa among the Department of Correctional Services, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the South African Police Service, the Department of Welfare, and the Department of Home Affairs. The coordinated approach among criminal justice agencies is meant to transform the system into a democratic police force. The government’s new policy on crime prevention is entitled the National Crime Prevention Strategy, and it recognizes that the existing, disjointed criminal justice system is unable to address the current level of crime in South Africa. Thus, certain measures were undertaken to assure the future effectiveness of the justice system. These measures include integrating the various agencies, creating the Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, and instituting specialized courts. Some of the strategic measures recently undertaken to address the soaring crime rates have been the re-organization of the justice system, a focus on changing the public values, and working on crime prevention through the use of environmental design. This report also discusses the new focus on crime as a transnational issue and the challenges presented by the blurring of borders in criminal activities. Another focus of the report is on the justice process itself, with issues of accountability and fairness coming forefront. The new program in restorative justice is explained, as are new initiatives designed to empower victims and assure fairness of treatment to offenders.