PEN3705
ASSESSMENT 2 PEN3705 SECOND SEMESTER 2022
Question 1
Discuss how you would apply principles of Restorative Conferencing in youth centres. (15)
Question 2
Describe in your own words the concept “Unit Management” as a technique for managing offenders in
a Youth Correctional Facility. (15)
Question 3
The Correctional Services Act (Act 111 of 1998) stipulates that sentenced offenders must upon
admission undergo a comprehensive assessment to identify their risks and needs.
Critically discuss the following statement: “The Department of Correctional Services is
responsible to provide youth offenders with needs-based programmes/services that are aimed
at rehabilitation and appropriate for their basic needs.” (15)
Question 4
“The Department of Correctional Services is legally responsible to protect the vulnerability
and rights of children in correctional centres.” Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree
with the statement. (20)
Question 5
Discuss the types of gangsterism found in correctional centres with specific reference to physical
signs thereof. (25)
TOTAL [90]
,Question 1
The method of restorative conferencing incorporates a variety of guidelines and
standard principles that one needs to follow. In youth centres, I would implement the
following restorative conferencing principles:
I would be widely accessible throughout the whole criminal justice process.
I would be seen as fair and just by all parties.
I would ensure that the parties are based on mutual acknowledgment of the case's
facts.
I would employ customary cultural procedures for making decisions.
I would use the support, care groups and networks that have been established for
both the main participants.
I would assure the participants' mental and emotional well-being together with their
confidentiality are granted legal privilege.
With the permission of the minors' parents or guardians I would investigate if there
were an imbalance of power due to age.
I would consider other power disparities, the individuals' maturity, intellectual
capability, and any disabilities.
I would provide parents a chance to engage with the child throughout the activity.
I would ensure that victims have additional rights because they are the ones who will
be negatively impacted by any outcomes that occur.
I would Include a window of opportunity for the victim to decide whether to participate
in restorative conferencing and defend the victim's right to refuse any specific offer of
restitution from the criminal.
I would help enable victims to seek legal counsel before participating in a restorative
conferencing program.
I understand that not only do criminals have needs and rights, but they also have
responsibilities to acknowledge the harm they did and pay restitution.
I would recognize that an accused individual is not required to confess to a crime
and that attending a restorative conference does not affect the presumption of
innocence in any later judicial processes involving the same crime.
I would need to understand that the process of restorative conferencing should not
be brutal, humiliating, or degrading, and offers of atonement should be offered
willingly.
, I would need to be aware that the right of the community to be consulted regarding
its desire and capacity to offer support and reintegration chances for victims or
offenders, as well as its need for restoration, healing, and public safety.
I will find out if the neighbourhood has enough resources to be effective in restorative
justice, crime prevention, and offenders' rehabilitation.
I would ensure that the facilitators are chosen and trained with the utmost integrity,
skill, and professionalism.
I would encourage the perpetrator to accept accountability for what they did to the
victim and the communities they touched.
I would ensure the victim's or offender's reintegration into the community is smooth
and seamless and that they are acclimated back into their community without any
further issues such as stigma, judgment, hate speech and backlash.
References
Du Preez, N & Luyt, W. (2011). Fundamentals and developmental psychology in
youth corrections.
2nd edition. Pretoria: Unisa Press. Unisa Press: University of South Africa, Pretoria.