WHY LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT ENOUGH: Lessons from the Central Karoo on breaking the cycle of crime and violence

Barbara Holtmann

doi:10.17159/2413-3108/2008/v0i23a959

Abstract

A 2003 initiative to develop a crime prevention strategy for the Central Karoo District Municipality helped formulate the ‘life cycle’ that perpetuates crime and violence, which is discussed in this article. Children’s developmental needs are obvious and logical if we are to raise young people with good self esteem, who are capable and prepared to contribute to society in a constructive manner. Yet in the Central Karoo (and many other communities) our children’s needs are being ignored. As a result, children learn to fend for themselves and some quickly tip over from being vulnerable victims to becoming young offenders. This article shows that as long as we ignore children’s needs, we can never build a criminal justice system that will adequately address crime and violence in South Africa. It demonstrates why safety is an issue for society as a whole and not just for the police, courts and prisons.

Highlights

A 2003 initiative to develop a crime prevention strategy for the Central Karoo District Municipality helped formulate the ‘life cycle’ that perpetuates crime and violence, which is discussed in this article
The most obvious connection is between alcohol and domestic and other interpersonal violence. This is reflected in the fact that these crimes are commonly recorded on Saturdays, followed by Fridays and Sundays (CSIR Central Karoo Study 2006; Cullinan 2004; Obot 2007)
We look anxiously over our shoulders but tend not to carry with us a vision of a safe South Africa; something worth striving towards; that place where we can live together in peace, harmony and prosperity, where our children play safely in the streets of leafy suburbs and doors and windows are thrown open to the warm summer evening air (CSIR 2007)

Summary

Introduction

A 2003 initiative to develop a crime prevention strategy for the Central Karoo District Municipality helped formulate the ‘life cycle’ that perpetuates crime and violence, which is discussed in this article. This article shows that as long as we ignore children’s needs, we can never build a criminal justice system that will adequately address crime and violence in South Africa.

Results

Conclusion