KRM120 ENTIRE MODULE SUMMARY

South African Criminal Justice
System

Integrated Justice System (IJS)

 With democracy in SA the Justice, Crime Prevention & Security (JCPS) cluster
was formed
- Aim - create link between police, courts and corrections
 In 1996 the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) was approved
- 2 elements arising
1. National Crime Combatting strategy
2. Integrated Justice System (IJS) (formed in 1997)

 In response to the IJS = the IJS Board was established in 1997
- Departments involved
- Justice & Constitutional Development
- DCS
- Social Development
- SAPS
- NPA

 6 components necessary for an integrated justice system
- Identification services to identify people already in system
- Criminal history information management
- Docket management by police and prosecution
- Event notification to reduce delays and non-appearance in court
- Business intelligence
- Information technology infrastructure to support entire system

 In 1998 recommendations were made necessary for the functioning of the
CJS – however too expensive to implement these recommendations
 Result - revamp different components of the CJS - IJS 2000 PLUS Strategy

 Recommendations by the IJS 2000 PLUS Strategy
- Shorter case cycle times
- More cases put through the system
- Fewer case withdrawals
- Fewer lost case files
- Fewer postponement of cases to reduce the number of ATD
- Higher conviction ratios
- Priority for cases involving youth, sex offenders & priority crimes
- Eradication of corruption

,Achievements of IJS

Court process project


 Court process project (CPP) was initiated in 2000 to install integrated criminal
case management system
 Aim – to bring advanced IT, functionality and support to courts

 Integrated system links
- Departments of safety and Security
- Correctional services
- Social development
- Justice and constitutional development
- NPA

 Benefits of linking departments
- Improved tracking of dockets and case files
- Reduced court trail delays
- Reduced duplication of data entry
- Improved access to information
- Improved verification of identities
- Reduced postponement of cases due to misplaced
- Improved administration of offender admissions and releases


Automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS)


 AFIS is a computerised database containing the details of over 4,6 million
convicted offenders
 MorphoTouch mechanism – handheld device used to scan fingerprints


Inmate tracking system within correctional centres


 Also known as Automated Personal Identification System
 Awaiting trail detainees used pilot system
- Objective is to ensure wrong offenders are not released from centres
and to ensure correct people go to court

,Law enforcement in South Africa

The South African Police Service (SAPS)

 SAPS under the control of the Department of Police, a part of the Justice,
Crime Prevention & Security cluster
 SAPS also known as the gatekeeper of the CJS – justice set in motion when
police make an arrest

 Responsibilities of the SAPS:
- Prevention, combating and investigating crime
- Maintaining public order
- Protecting and securing South Africans and their property
- Upholding and enforcing the law

 Vision of the SAPS = create a safe and secure environment for all the people
of SA

 Aims of the SAPS:
- Protect the rights of all SA
- Use its powers in a responsible way
- Provide a service with honesty and integrity
- Evaluate its service
- Use the resources provided by government ex during 2008 there were
an estimated shortage of about 22 000 bullet proof vests at police
stations around the country
- Develop the skills of its members
- Cooperate with the community, government and all role-players

 SAPS consists of 11 different divisions (4 for the purpose of the module)
- Crime intelligence
- Visible policing
- Detective service
- Protection and security services


Crime intelligence


 Manage the crime intelligence capacity of the SAPS (crime info analysis
centre + crime info management centre)
 Involved in counter intelligence
 Crime intelligence gathering
 Cooperating with INTERPOL

, Visible policing


 Combat crime by visible proactive + responsive policing
 Main functions:
- Address the socio-econ factors related to crime
- Optimise crime prevention
- Optimise firearms and liquor control
- Ensure specialised response and interventions
- Combat crime and maintain public order


Detective service


 Manage the investigative work of the SAPS (provide support to the
investigators in terms of forensic evidence and the Criminal Record Centre)
 3 sub-divisions:
- Crime investigations – detectives at police stations who investigate
organised crime, serious and violent crime, general crime and
commercial crime
- Criminal Record Centre – manages criminal records
- Forensic Science Laboratory – provides support to investigators in
respect of evidence


Protection and security services


 Protect prominent foreign and local dignitaries
 4 sub-divisions:
- VIP protection services – protection of president, deputy president,
former president and their spouses and other identified VIP’S in transit
- Static and mobile security – protection of other local and foreign VIP’s,
the places in which all VIP’s are present, as well as valuable
government cargo
- Ports-of-entry security – security at border posts, airports and harbours
- Rail police – security in railway environment


Community policing (CP)


 CP is partnership between police and community to resolve safety problems
in all policing precincts
 Was introduced as policing strategy to achieve more effective crime control,
improved police service and police legitimacy (1994)
 Based on proactive partnership between police and community that seeks
that seeks to address crime
 Resolve problems to reduce fear of crime, physical and social disorder