Abstract
Studies show that there is a high rate of recidivism amongst children in conflict with the law who have attended anger management programme. Anger management is now a major issue affecting children and youth across societies including South Africa. Poor management of anger often leads children and youth into committing criminal offences. There are no enough studies which rigorously explored possible reasons for children’s reoffending behaviours after attending anger management programme. This qualitative study sought to describe factors which lead children to reoffend after attending anger management diversion programme at NICRO (National Institute of Crime and Re-Integration of Offenders) in Limpopo Province. To pursue the aim of this study, behaviour modification approach was followed. A descriptive multiple case-study design was used to purposefully and conviniently select three social workers who facilitated the programme and ten youths who attended the programme while they were still under the age of 18 years. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data which was analysed thematically with the assistance of the Nvivo software. Findings revealed lack of family support, peer influence and substance use , poor educational competencies and lack of understanding of the programme as factors leading to recidivism amongst children in conflict with the law. It is therefore recommended that the re-intergration process of children who completed the programme incorporate serious follow up sessions.
Highlights
Introduction and background information SouthAfrica is challenged with the assignment of dealing with a rapid increase in the crime rate
The followonh themes emerged as factors contributing to children and youth’ reoffending behaviours upon their reintegration into the communities and families: Theme 1: Family Support Both social workers and youth who participated in anger management programme stated that upon reintegration into the communities and families, children in conflict with the law re-offend because of lack of support they receive within their families
Theme 2: Peer influence and substance use Youths and social workers who participated in this study have indicated that some children upon their reintegration into the communities, they make wrong friends who introduce them into anti-social behaviours such as substance use and later re-offend due to such influencial factors
Summary
Introduction and background information SouthAfrica is challenged with the assignment of dealing with a rapid increase in the crime rate. Masango (2004) supports the assertion that there is no doubt that anger and aggression have become an international phenomenon leading to more anti-social behaviours within communities. To mitigate this problem of children in conflict with the law, government and non-government organisations jointly developed intervention strategies and programmes, amongst others is anger management. There is a number of diversion programmes amongst the alternative intervention strategies which were introduced in South Africa to rehabilitate children and young offenders from anti-social practices (Masango, 2004; Nkosi, 2012). One study which was conducted by Sillivan and Tiff (2008) argues that diversion programmes in South Africa are not effective, the increase in the reoffending rates committed by children and youth in South Africa.This calls for intensive studies to assess factors leading to children’s reoffending behaviours upon their reintergration into the communities and families
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