OFFENDER CLASSIFICATION AS A REHABILITATION TOOL AARON LABANE MASTER OF ...

360 Pages·2013·2.35 MB·English

OFFENDER CLASSIFICATION AS A REHABILITATION TOOL

by
AARON LABANE

submitted in accordance with the requirements for
the degree of

MASTER OF ARTS

in the subject

PENOLOGY
at the

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

SUPERVISOR: Prof. N du Preez

JUNE 2012
DECLARATION

Student number: 36865990
I, Aaron Labane declare that Offender classification as a rehabilitation tool is my
own work, and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and
acknowledged by means of complete references.

2012-07-30
________________
SIGNATURE DATE
(Mr A. Labane)

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank almighty God who gave me the strength to finish this research. In addition,
I wish to extend my greatest gratitude to the following people who made it possible for me to
complete this qualification:
My supervisor Professor N. du Preez for sharing with me the necessary experience and
expertise that brought this dissertation to fruition and for her motivation throughout this
research project.
Management of Johannesburg Correctional Services, Mr Sam Maphuthuma (Head of
Correctional Centre, Medium C) and Mr Moeketsi Moferefere (Head: Offender Admissions)
for sharing with me their experience and knowledge on the process offender admission and
assessment.
Ms G. Buncombe, for assisting with the editing of the final document.
Mr Xolani Mwandla (a former correctional official at the JHB Correctional Centre and later
Manager: Logistics and Disposal Management at Agricultural Research Council) for his
invaluable support and motivation throughout the period of study.
To my family, friends and colleagues for all the support, interest and motivation that they
gave me throughout this research.
Everyone at the UNISA library for their kindness and patience.

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SUMMARY
Since the Department of Correctional Services has been transformed into an institution of
rehabilitation and the promotion of corrections has become a societal responsibility, there is a
new dimension to the classification system whereby offenders are separated according to their

potential for treatment and training programmes.
Research into offender classification as a tool to rehabilitate offenders in corrections was
necessitated by the way in which assessment was used for classification. Corrections uses
offender files as the only determinant of classification assessment. Simply investigating offender
files and observing classification hearings does not reveal the full aspects of the character of the
offender as an individual. Corrections does not use qualitative research to gain an understanding
of real issues faced by the offender. The problems with classification are also quantity
assessments that are too narrow. Most correctional institutions believe that better data and
statistical analysis will in one way or the other improve the situation for offenders and
correctional officials. Staffs have limited skills and lack the appropriate training to support the
rehabilitation of offenders. This remains an obstacle to the delivery and transformation of the
department and implies that there is ineffective treatment of offenders. The increasing
dissatisfaction with treatment and rehabilitation services available to offenders in South African
prisons can result in an increase in recidivism. All of the above are reasons why this research
became important.
The investigation contributes largely to scientific knowledge regarding the importance of
classification for each individual within corrections. In this research the extent to which
classification treatment rehabilitation arrangements are based on the concept of differential
treatment is studied. This implies that offenders‟ needs and problems must be specific and
treated on an individualised basis. This study focuses on classifying offenders as a means to
rehabilitate them effectively. Particular emphasis will be placed on philosophical approaches,
theoretical frameworks and the effectiveness of offenders‟ treatment through the utilisation of
reliable assessment tools. This research was conducted through an extensive literature study by
examining offender classification as a rehabilitation tool from a Penological perspective.
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International and national approaches as well as standards for the treatment of offenders and a
range of rehabilitation programmes were also studied.

KEY TERMS
Rehabilitation; punishment; the correctional system; Correctional Services Act; White Paper on
Corrections; classification; treatment needs; special needs offenders; security; risk assessment;
needs assessment; sentence planning; offender assessment; levels of custody

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Table of Content
CHAPTER 1: THE RESEARCH
Topic Page
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY....................................................... 1
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT...................................................................... 3
1.3 AIM OF THE RESEARCH..................................................................... 7
1.4 MOTIVATION FOR THE RESEARCH................................................. 7
1.4.1 Value for the administration of Correctional Services in South Africa..... 7
1.4.2 Value to society......................................................................................... 8
1.4.3 Scientific value........................................................................................... 8
1.5 KEY CONCEPTS...................................................................................... 9
1.5.1 Sentence planning....................................................................................... 9
1.5.2 Rehabilitation.............................................................................................. 9
1.5.3 Assessment process..................................................................................... 9
1.5.4 Needs assessment....................................................................................... 9
1.5.5 Risk assessment......................................................................................... 9
1.5.6 Classification............................................................................................. 10
1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY............................................................ 10
1.6.1 Research design......................................................................................... 10
1.6.2 Methodological design............................................................................... 11
1.6.2.1 Qualitative research..................................................................................... 11
1.6.2.2 Exploratory research.................................................................................... 12
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1.6.2.3 Data collection……………………………………………………………. 12
1.6.2.4 Data analysis.................................................................................................. 13
1.7 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY............................................................... 14
1.8 DEMARCATION OF STUDY..................................................................... 14
1.8.1 Demarcation of the universe.......................................................................... 15
1.8.2 Demarcation of countries............................................................................... 15
1.8.3 Time demarcation of study............................................................................ 15
1.9 PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE STUDY.......................... 15 17
1.10 LAYOUT OF THE DISSERTATION......................................................... 16
1.11 CONCLUSION............................................................................................ 18
1.12 LIST OF REFERENCES............................................................................. 19

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Table of Content
CHAPTER 2: THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PUNISHMENT AND
IMPRISONMENT
Topic Page
2.1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................ 22
2.2 PUNISHMENT……………………………………………………………. 23
2.2.1 The origin of punishment............................................................................... 23
2.2.2 Justification for punishment.......................................................................... 26
2.3 THEORIES OF PUNISHMENT................................................................... 27
2.3.1 Retribution...................................................................................................... 28
2.3.2 Deterrence..................................................................................................... 29
2.3.3 Incapacitation................................................................................................. 30
2.3.4 Rehabilitation................................................................................................ 30
2.4 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PRISONS.......................................... 31
2.4.1 The origins of prison from the biblical perspective....................................... 31
2.4.2 The origins and development of prison in the mediaeval era........................ 32
2.5 THE HISTORICAL ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRISONS
BEFORE 1870 IN THE USA........................................................................ 35
2.5.1 The Walnut Street Jail.................................................................................... 35
2.5.2 The Auburn system....................................................................................... 36
2.5.3 The Pennsylvania system.............................................................................. 37
2.5.3.1 Western Penitentiary...................................................................................... 37
2.5.3.2 Eastern Penitentiary....................................................................................... 37
2.6 THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRISONS IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY.... 39
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2.6.1 National Prison Association (Cincinnati)....................................................... 40
2.6.2 Elmira............................................................................................................ 41
2.7 ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF OFFENDER CLASSIFICATION. 43
2.7.1 Offender classification in the mediaeval period............................................. 43
2.7.2 Offender classification in the late 1700s........................................................ 45
2.7.3 Offender classification from the 1800s to the 20th century............................ 46
2.7.4 Offenders classification in the 20th century................................................... 48
2.8 CONCLUSION............................................................................................. 53
2.9 LIST OF REFERENCES................................................................................ 54

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Table of Content
CHAPTER 3: THEORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF REHABILITATION
THAT ARE RELATED TO CLASSIFICATION
Topic Page
3.1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 58
3.2 THE PHILOSOPHY OF REHABILITATION............................................ 59
3.3 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IMPRISONMENT AND
REHABILITATION...................................................................................... 60
3.3.1 The custodian function................................................................................... 61
3.3.2 The restorative function................................................................................. 61
3.3.3 The controlling function................................................................................ 62
3.3.4 The maintenance function.............................................................................. 62
3.4 MODELS INFLUENCING THE HANDLING OF OFFENDERS IN THE
CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM……………………………………………… 63
3.4.1 Medical model................................................................................................ 63
3.4.2 Adjustment model......................................................................................... 64
3.4.3 Community model......................................................................................... 65
3.4.4 Justice model................................................................................................. 67
3.4.5 Neo-utilitarian punishment model…………………………………………. 67
3.4.6 Confinement model………………………………………………………... 69
3.5 PROGRAMMES AIMED AT THE REHABILITATION OF
OFFENDERS………………………………………………………………. 69
3.5.1 Educational programmes……………………………………………………. 73
3.5.2 Recreational programmes…………………………………………………..... 74
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