Corrections and Punishment Approaches in South Africa

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors focus on corrections and punishment in South Africa by drawing from the historical background of corrections to current punishment approaches. The different punishment eras are described ranging from the Colonial Era to Apartheid and finally Democratization. Within each of these eras the punishment philosophy is discussed. The authors then proceed with a discussion of current punishment approaches, which include incapacitation, retribution, rehabilitation and deterrence, with the last two approaches being applied to the South African context. Regarding deterrence, minimum sentence legislation is used as an example to illustrate how long term imprisonment may deter people from committing crime. However, the consequence of such a punishment approach is the overcrowding of prisons. Rehabilitation of offenders is discussed from the viewpoint of nothing works to what works and includes a description of rehabilitation programs and the introduction of victim-offender-dialogues in South African prisons.