Die rol van die proefbeampte in die vonnisoplegging van jeugoortreders

Date
1999-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY: This study deals with the development of practical guidelines to enable probation officers to act as expert witnesses in criminal courts and to make appropriate sentence recommendations for juvenile offenders. The motivation for this study is the growing demands that are placed on probation officers to act as sources of scientific information during adjudication processes and to provide the courts with appropriate sentence options for juvenile offenders in the context of the present juvenile crime situation, participatory law and reform in the South African welfare and legal system. A survey was done with reference to an extensive literature review which entails an examination of the functions, knowledge and behaviour of probation officers in criminal courts. Attention was paid to pre-sentence investigations and -reports as well as the testimony of probation officers (as expert witnesses in criminal courts) about these investigations and reports. The contribution of crime-focused social work to the juvenile crime issue was also studied and the expert knowledge that probation officers should have about the social characteristics of the juvenile offender was explained. The requirements and conduct rules for probation officers in criminal courts were stated and the factors and theories that need to be taken into account, when determining sentence recommendations were discussed. Attention was paid to these factors, since social work in criminal courts is practiced in a secondary set-up and has to contribute to the actualization of the primary aim of the criminal court, namely fair sentencing. The role of probation officers in the sentencing of juvenile offenders was evaluated by magistrates in the Cape Peninsula. The advisory and executive role of probation officers in criminal courts were confirmed. In addition to knowledge of forensic social work, probation officers need to have legal knowledge. In determining sentence recommendations, they need to take into account the same aspects as judicial officials and apply the principles upon which the allotment of punishment is based. The sentence recommendation is a result of the conclusions of the. presentence investigation and the expert opinion of the probation officer about this. However, probation officers should not take their status as expert witnesses in criminal courts for granted. Before they are allowed to act as expert witnesses in criminal courts, probation officers need to be declared as such by courts as well as meet certain other requirements. The development-based approach appears to be most appropriate for providing service in the field of child and youth care in South Mrica. Probation officers need to avoid subjectivity in the execution of their duties and they need to reject the earlier treatment-model. Developmental assessment is especially appropriate to the accumulation of facts about the social functioning of the juvenile offender. The probation officer should be guided by this in order to recommend sentences that empower juveniles, enable them to accept responsibility for their criminal behaviour and to play significant roles in the community. Sentence recommendations for juvenile offenders, like sentences, need to emphasize development and advancement, rather than punishment for anti-social behaviour.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie handel oor die ontwikkeling van 'n praktykriglyn vir proefbeamptes om as deskundige getuies in strafhowe op te tree en toepaslike vonnisaanbevelings vir jeugoortreders te maak. Die motivering hiervoor is die toenemende eise wat aan proefbeamptes gestel word om tydens beregtigingsprosesse op te tree as wetenskaplike inligtingsbronne en om howe te bedien met bemagtigende vonnismoontlikhede vir jeugoortreders teen die agtergrond van die huidige jeugmisdaadsituasie, deelnemende reg en hervorming in die Suid-Afrikaanse welsyns- en regstelsel. Die ondersoek is gedoen aan die hand van 'n uitgebreide literatuurstudie wat gerig is deur 'n ondersoek na die funksies, kennis en optrede van proefbeamptes in strafhowe. Aandag is verleen aan voorvonnisondersoeke en -verslae en proefbeamptes se getuienis daaroor in strafhowe in die hoedanigheid van deskundige getuies. Tesame hiermee is die bydrae van rnisdaad-gefokusde maatskaplike werk tot die jeugmisdaadkwessie bestudeer en die vakkundige kennis oor die sosiale kenmerke van die jeugoortreder waaroor proefbeamptes behoort te beskik verduidelik. Die vereistes gestel aan en gedragsreels van proefbeamptes in strafhowe is uiteengesit en die faktore en teoriee wat in aanmerking geneem moet word in die bepaling van vonnisaanbevelings, is bespreek. Omdat maatskaplike werk in strafhowe in 'n sekondere opset beoefen word en dit moet bydra tot die verwesenliking van die strafhof se primere doelstelling, naamlik regverdige vonnisoplegging, is hieraan aandag geskenk. Die rol van proefbeamptes in die vonnisoplegging van jeugoortreders is geevalueer deur landdroste in die Kaapse Skiereiland. Bevestiging is verkry vir proefbeamptes se vertolking van adviserende en uitvoerende rolIe in strafhowe. Proefbeamptes moet benewens kennis van forensiese maatskaplike werk, oor regskennis beskik en in die bepaling van vonnisaanbevelings, dieselfde aspekte as regsprekende beamptes in aanmerking neem en die beginsels aanwend waarop strafioemeting berus. Die vonnisaanbeveling is 'n uitvloeisel van die gevolgtrekkings van die voorvonnisondersoek en die proefbeampte se deskundige mening daaromtrent. Proefbeamptes moet dit egter nie vanselfsprekend aanvaar dat hul deskundige getuies in strafhowe is nie; hul moet eers aan sekere vereistes voldoen en deur die hof as deskundig bevind word, alvorens hul as deskundiges in strafhowe kan optree. Die ontwikkelingsgerigte benadering blyk mees gepas vir dienslewering op die terrein van kinderen jeugsorg in Suid-Afrika. Proefbeamptes moet hulself weerhou van subjektiwiteit in die uitvoering van hul take en afsien van die aanhang van die eertydse behandelingsmodel. Ontwikkelingsgerigte assessering is veral geskik vir die versameling van feitegegewens oor die jeugoortreder se maatskaplike funksionering en proefbeamptes moet daardeur gelei word om vonnisse aan te beveel wat poog om jeugdiges te bemagtig, verantwoordelikheid vir hul kriminele dade te laat aanvaar en hulle in staat stel om betekenisvolle rolle in gemeenskappe te vertolk. Vonnisaanbevelings vir jeugoortreders, soos vonnisuitsprake, moet Idem plaas op ontwikkeling en bevordering, eerder as bestrawwing vir anti-sosiale gedrag.
Description
Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1999.
Keywords
Probation officers -- South Africa. -- Handbooks, manuals, etc, Social work with juvenile delinquents -- South Africa, Juvenile courts -- South Africa, Juvenile justice, Administration of -- South Africa, Probation -- South Africa, Dissertations -- Social work
Citation