| Summary: | Doctor Educationis === The institution in which the study was conducted is a closed, residential, single sex reform school in Cape Town. Male youths between the ages of 13 and 21 are committed via the judicial system for offenses which range from persistent behavioural problems at Schools of Industry to criminal offenses. Academic and technical education is provided with the emphasis on equipping them with trade skills to enable them to more easily enter the job market after release. The period of institionalisation is 1Y2 to 2 years. After this period, the youth is "released on licence", pending a favourable social worker's report on his home circumstances. This is technically a probationary period, during which there is supposed to be a social work follow-up service in the community. Apart from a bi-annual holiday which is conditionally based on favourable home circumstances, the only form of interaction with the community consists of the youth working for members of the public which is a reward for good behaviour whereby youths are allowed to work on a Saturday at a nominal fee. Punishment involves caning, isolation of up to a month in isolation cells and the removal of privileges such as holidays or watching television. The aim of the rehabilitation programme is to facilitate the youths' successful reintegration into society. The study, therefore, explores the youthful offenders' subjective experiences of the rehabilitation programme to determine aspects of the programme which could be modified or stabilized to improve its outcome. It is assumed that the analysis of the experiences of the youthful offenders is located within a broader interpretation of what may be described as the two sides of the juvenile justice and education system - its policy and practice. The study, therefore, includes a conceptual and historical analysis of the organising principles of the reform school. It is also argued that while adherence to law-abiding behaviour is an important goal of correctional treatment, assessment should provide information about other capabilities and aspects of adjustment. Although the call has been away from institutional provision toward community treatment, it is asserted that the only notable shift has been in the rhetoric, despite the restructuring and reorganising of the juvenile justice and education system. The present author advocates for the co-existence of institutional and community-based programmes. Recommendations are made to inform an intervention strategy that would assist with the youths' reintegration into society because the current system only served to create a pervasive atmosphere of disillusionment and frustration as opposed to pro-social behaviour.
|
|---|
