Social problems faced by male juvenile offenders in secure care centres in the North West Province
Abstract
A high percentage of crime in South Africa is committed by children and this is a disturbing
factor. Prior to 1994 children who committed crimes were treated in the same way as adults who
were arrested. In 1995, new legislature was drafted which made provisions that children in
conflict with the law must be treated differently from adult criminals. This amendment of
apartheid laws allowed for children to be removed from adult prisons and allowed them to be
detained under supervision in juvenile facilities, often with their parents. Such a restorative
justice system made provisions for the development of Child Justice Act No. 75 of 2008. This
Act enshrines the rights of children who are in conflict with the law. The act also made
provisions for the establishment of secure care centres; institutions meant for the detention of
juvenile offenders. The centres were established to rehabilitate children and ensure their safety
from the community and from themselves.
There are thousands of children detained in these centres in South Africa. Some of them are
awaiting trial while others are under crime-diversion programmes. Despite what is intended with
these secure care centres, there are problems faced by juvenile offenders housed in such centres.
One of the major challenges facing juveniles in the centres is gangsterism. It is the purpose of
this study to identify the problems facing juvenile offenders in three secure care centres located
in North-West Province, South Africa.
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