CMY3706
CONTEMPORARY CRIMINOLOGICAL ISSUES
OCTOBER 31, 2015
UNISA
Charmaine Busch
,Contents
SU 1.1: Violent Crime ...................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction to the incidence of violent crime ..................................................................................... 5
General definition of violent crime .................................................................................................. 5
Problems with comparisons of crime in different countries ..................................................................... 5
International crime trends ............................................................................................................. 5
South African crime trends............................................................................................................. 6
Sexual Crimes .......................................................................................................................... 6
Factors contributing to violent crime ................................................................................................ 6
SU 2.1: Interpersonal Violence ........................................................................................................... 9
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 9
Definitions................................................................................................................................. 9
The Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998 ............................................................................................. 9
Forms of interpersonal violence ..................................................................................................... 10
Characteristics of violent relationships ............................................................................................. 11
Causes of interpersonal violence..................................................................................................... 11
Personal factors ...................................................................................................................... 12
Familial factors ....................................................................................................................... 12
Societal factors ....................................................................................................................... 13
The functional role and value of violence in relationships ...................................................................... 13
Types of interpersonal violence ...................................................................................................... 13
Incidence of intimate partner violence (domestic violence) ................................................................... 13
Violence against children.............................................................................................................. 14
Interpersonal sexual abuse and coercion ........................................................................................... 14
Nature of sexual offences ............................................................................................................. 15
Incidence of sexual abuse and coercion ............................................................................................ 16
Explanation of interpersonal violence .............................................................................................. 16
SU 3.1: Taxi Violence ..................................................................................................................... 18
Key terms ................................................................................................................................ 18
The history and economics of the minibus taxi industry in SA.................................................................. 18
The historical perspectives on taxi violence in SA ................................................................................ 19
The causes of taxi violence and contributory factors ............................................................................ 20
The impact of taxi violence ........................................................................................................... 20
SU 3.2. Political Crime ................................................................................................................... 20
Definition of key concepts ............................................................................................................ 20
Historical background .................................................................................................................. 21
Different forms of political violence ................................................................................................ 21
Factors contributing to political violence .......................................................................................... 22
, Right-wing violence .................................................................................................................... 22
Some contemporary South and southern African examples ..................................................................... 23
SU 3.3: Xenophobia ....................................................................................................................... 23
Definition ................................................................................................................................. 23
Causes .................................................................................................................................... 23
Impact .................................................................................................................................... 23
SU 3.4. Terrorism .......................................................................................................................... 24
Terrorism defined....................................................................................................................... 24
Who are the terrorists? ................................................................................................................ 24
The terrorist defined ................................................................................................................... 25
The characteristics of the terrorist .................................................................................................. 25
The purpose of terrorist groups ...................................................................................................... 25
Forms of terrorism ...................................................................................................................... 25
The victims of terrorism ............................................................................................................... 26
The extent of terrorism ............................................................................................................... 26
The nature of international terrorism .............................................................................................. 26
Terrorism in southern Africa .......................................................................................................... 26
Future types of terrorism ............................................................................................................. 27
The risk factors for terrorism ......................................................................................................... 27
The motives for terrorism ............................................................................................................. 28
Explanations for terrorism ............................................................................................................ 28
The law and social order approach ............................................................................................... 28
The radical-critical perspective ................................................................................................... 29
Theoretical explanation for terrorism .............................................................................................. 29
Countermeasures ....................................................................................................................... 29
SU 4.1: Gangs and Prison Violence ..................................................................................................... 30
Definition of the term “gang” ........................................................................................................ 30
Characteristics of gangs ............................................................................................................... 31
Incidence of gangs ...................................................................................................................... 31
Types of gangs ........................................................................................................................... 31
Types of gangs in SA .................................................................................................................... 32
Other types of gangs ................................................................................................................... 32
Gangs in South African prisons ....................................................................................................... 33
School gangs ............................................................................................................................. 33
Neighbourhood-based gangs .......................................................................................................... 33
Entrepreneurial gangs .................................................................................................................. 33
Adult criminal organisation ........................................................................................................... 33
Troublesome youth groups ............................................................................................................ 33
, SU 5.1: The Crime of Armed Robbery .................................................................................................. 34
Key terms ................................................................................................................................ 34
The historical perspective on armed robbery ..................................................................................... 34
The nature and extent of armed robbery .......................................................................................... 34
The causes of armed robbery ......................................................................................................... 35
Typology of armed robbers ........................................................................................................... 35
Modus operandi in armed robberies ................................................................................................. 36
SU 5.2: Vehicle Hijackings ............................................................................................................... 37
Definition of terms ..................................................................................................................... 37
The incidence and extent of vehicle hijacking .................................................................................... 37
Various causes/motives for vehicle hijacking ..................................................................................... 38
The modus operandi of vehicle hijackers .......................................................................................... 39
The profile of the vehicle hijacker .................................................................................................. 39
The victims of vehicle hijacking ..................................................................................................... 40
SU 5.3: Cash-in-Transit Robberies ...................................................................................................... 40
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 40
Definition of key concepts ............................................................................................................ 40
The characteristics and incidence of cash-in-transit robberies ................................................................ 41
The modus operandi of CIT robbers ................................................................................................. 42
Profile of victims of CIT robbers ..................................................................................................... 42
Profile of CIT robbers .................................................................................................................. 42
The role of the criminal justice system............................................................................................. 43
SU 5.4: Robberies at Business Premises ............................................................................................... 44
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 44
Definition of key concepts ............................................................................................................ 44
Incidence of robbery at business premises in SA .................................................................................. 44
Modus operandi of robbers targeting business premises ......................................................................... 44
Motive for robberies committed at business premises ........................................................................... 45
Causes of robberies at business premises .......................................................................................... 45
SU 5.5: House robberies .................................................................................................................. 45
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 45
Definition of key concepts ............................................................................................................ 45
Incidence and extent of house robberies in South Africa ........................................................................ 45
The modus operandi of the house robber .......................................................................................... 45
The Planning Stage… ................................................................................................................ 45
Modus operandi during the robbery… ............................................................................................ 46
Modus operandi following the robbery… ......................................................................................... 47
Possible causes of house robberies .................................................................................................. 47
CONTEMPORARY CRIMINOLOGICAL ISSUES
OCTOBER 31, 2015
UNISA
Charmaine Busch
,Contents
SU 1.1: Violent Crime ...................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction to the incidence of violent crime ..................................................................................... 5
General definition of violent crime .................................................................................................. 5
Problems with comparisons of crime in different countries ..................................................................... 5
International crime trends ............................................................................................................. 5
South African crime trends............................................................................................................. 6
Sexual Crimes .......................................................................................................................... 6
Factors contributing to violent crime ................................................................................................ 6
SU 2.1: Interpersonal Violence ........................................................................................................... 9
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 9
Definitions................................................................................................................................. 9
The Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998 ............................................................................................. 9
Forms of interpersonal violence ..................................................................................................... 10
Characteristics of violent relationships ............................................................................................. 11
Causes of interpersonal violence..................................................................................................... 11
Personal factors ...................................................................................................................... 12
Familial factors ....................................................................................................................... 12
Societal factors ....................................................................................................................... 13
The functional role and value of violence in relationships ...................................................................... 13
Types of interpersonal violence ...................................................................................................... 13
Incidence of intimate partner violence (domestic violence) ................................................................... 13
Violence against children.............................................................................................................. 14
Interpersonal sexual abuse and coercion ........................................................................................... 14
Nature of sexual offences ............................................................................................................. 15
Incidence of sexual abuse and coercion ............................................................................................ 16
Explanation of interpersonal violence .............................................................................................. 16
SU 3.1: Taxi Violence ..................................................................................................................... 18
Key terms ................................................................................................................................ 18
The history and economics of the minibus taxi industry in SA.................................................................. 18
The historical perspectives on taxi violence in SA ................................................................................ 19
The causes of taxi violence and contributory factors ............................................................................ 20
The impact of taxi violence ........................................................................................................... 20
SU 3.2. Political Crime ................................................................................................................... 20
Definition of key concepts ............................................................................................................ 20
Historical background .................................................................................................................. 21
Different forms of political violence ................................................................................................ 21
Factors contributing to political violence .......................................................................................... 22
, Right-wing violence .................................................................................................................... 22
Some contemporary South and southern African examples ..................................................................... 23
SU 3.3: Xenophobia ....................................................................................................................... 23
Definition ................................................................................................................................. 23
Causes .................................................................................................................................... 23
Impact .................................................................................................................................... 23
SU 3.4. Terrorism .......................................................................................................................... 24
Terrorism defined....................................................................................................................... 24
Who are the terrorists? ................................................................................................................ 24
The terrorist defined ................................................................................................................... 25
The characteristics of the terrorist .................................................................................................. 25
The purpose of terrorist groups ...................................................................................................... 25
Forms of terrorism ...................................................................................................................... 25
The victims of terrorism ............................................................................................................... 26
The extent of terrorism ............................................................................................................... 26
The nature of international terrorism .............................................................................................. 26
Terrorism in southern Africa .......................................................................................................... 26
Future types of terrorism ............................................................................................................. 27
The risk factors for terrorism ......................................................................................................... 27
The motives for terrorism ............................................................................................................. 28
Explanations for terrorism ............................................................................................................ 28
The law and social order approach ............................................................................................... 28
The radical-critical perspective ................................................................................................... 29
Theoretical explanation for terrorism .............................................................................................. 29
Countermeasures ....................................................................................................................... 29
SU 4.1: Gangs and Prison Violence ..................................................................................................... 30
Definition of the term “gang” ........................................................................................................ 30
Characteristics of gangs ............................................................................................................... 31
Incidence of gangs ...................................................................................................................... 31
Types of gangs ........................................................................................................................... 31
Types of gangs in SA .................................................................................................................... 32
Other types of gangs ................................................................................................................... 32
Gangs in South African prisons ....................................................................................................... 33
School gangs ............................................................................................................................. 33
Neighbourhood-based gangs .......................................................................................................... 33
Entrepreneurial gangs .................................................................................................................. 33
Adult criminal organisation ........................................................................................................... 33
Troublesome youth groups ............................................................................................................ 33
, SU 5.1: The Crime of Armed Robbery .................................................................................................. 34
Key terms ................................................................................................................................ 34
The historical perspective on armed robbery ..................................................................................... 34
The nature and extent of armed robbery .......................................................................................... 34
The causes of armed robbery ......................................................................................................... 35
Typology of armed robbers ........................................................................................................... 35
Modus operandi in armed robberies ................................................................................................. 36
SU 5.2: Vehicle Hijackings ............................................................................................................... 37
Definition of terms ..................................................................................................................... 37
The incidence and extent of vehicle hijacking .................................................................................... 37
Various causes/motives for vehicle hijacking ..................................................................................... 38
The modus operandi of vehicle hijackers .......................................................................................... 39
The profile of the vehicle hijacker .................................................................................................. 39
The victims of vehicle hijacking ..................................................................................................... 40
SU 5.3: Cash-in-Transit Robberies ...................................................................................................... 40
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 40
Definition of key concepts ............................................................................................................ 40
The characteristics and incidence of cash-in-transit robberies ................................................................ 41
The modus operandi of CIT robbers ................................................................................................. 42
Profile of victims of CIT robbers ..................................................................................................... 42
Profile of CIT robbers .................................................................................................................. 42
The role of the criminal justice system............................................................................................. 43
SU 5.4: Robberies at Business Premises ............................................................................................... 44
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 44
Definition of key concepts ............................................................................................................ 44
Incidence of robbery at business premises in SA .................................................................................. 44
Modus operandi of robbers targeting business premises ......................................................................... 44
Motive for robberies committed at business premises ........................................................................... 45
Causes of robberies at business premises .......................................................................................... 45
SU 5.5: House robberies .................................................................................................................. 45
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 45
Definition of key concepts ............................................................................................................ 45
Incidence and extent of house robberies in South Africa ........................................................................ 45
The modus operandi of the house robber .......................................................................................... 45
The Planning Stage… ................................................................................................................ 45
Modus operandi during the robbery… ............................................................................................ 46
Modus operandi following the robbery… ......................................................................................... 47
Possible causes of house robberies .................................................................................................. 47
