Criminal Justice Programme

 

• Why a Criminal Justice Programme?
• Our Aims
• The Work We Do
• Our Programme and its Projects
• Our Funders
• Programme and Project-Specific Contact Details
• Criminal Justice Conference

 

Why a Criminal Justice Programme?

One of the key challenges facing South Africa in its transition to democracy has been the dramatic increase in violent crime. At the time of our democratic elections in 1994 however, our criminal justice system was not designed to serve all South Africans within a human rights framework. It could not respond adequately to the crime challenges facing the country. Because of this citizens have become increasingly frustrated, calling for harsher measures against criminal suspects - and increasingly taking the law into their own hands.

The criminal justice system is undergoing a transformation process to become more effective. It is therefore important that there is constant support for building respect for the rule of law while simultaneously promoting a human rights culture. It is within this context that the need for our work arose.

 

Our Aims

The Criminal Justice Programme (CJP), as part of the CSVR, works for a reduction in violence in South Africa through working towards the establishment of an effective and human rights orientated criminal justice system. While this may not be sufficient for reducing the problem of violent crime, it is a necessary condition for other crime-prevention strategies to be successful.

The CJP specifically aims to:

• Contribute to the development of better policies and practices in South Africa's criminal justice agencies.
• Help build the capacity of criminal justice institutions to deliver effective services as set out in the Constitution and its Bill of Rights.
• Help civil society to engage actively and constructively with the criminal justice system.
• Contribute to knowledge and debates about crime prevention and law enforcement in South Africa.

 

The Work We Do

Our Programme is involved in a wide range of work including:

• Qualitative and quantitative research and analysis
• Public policy development and analysis
• Pilot projects intended to assist criminal justice officials in tackling policy implementation challenges
• Production of research reports, training and public education materials
• Hosting public seminars, giving presentations and briefings
• Conducting media work
• Advocacy
• Offering consultancy services both nationally and internationally
• Designing and facilitating workshops
• Designing and conducting training

Collaboration and Partnerships

We liaise and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including communities, non-governmental organisations, consultants and government departments. Each of us brings our own complementary expertise and experience to enhance the value of the work we do. Our funding partnerships are essential to implementing our projects.

Because we focus on the criminal justice system, most of our work would not be possible without gaining permission from the government departments of justice, safety and security, and correctional services. Where possible, we strive to assist government with the development of research, policy and with piloting of implementation projects.

We are, however, an independent organisation that engages in constructive criticism. It is through this dual strategy - of working with government and being autonomous - that we hope to encourage shifts in government policy implementation that are grounded in sound knowledge and analysis, and that are consistent with principles of human rights and democracy.

In our work with national oversight bodies we aim to provide information and analysis that will add depth to debates and help inform decisions around criminal justice matters.

 

Our Funders

We thank these funding agencies for supporting our work:

• AusAid
• Danida
• Ford Foundation
• Ireland Aid
• Open Society Foundation for South Africa

 

Programme and Project-Specific Contact Details

Criminal Justice Programme manager
Amanda Dissel at adissel@csvr.org.za

Senior administrator
Bilkees Vawda at bvawda@csvr.org.za

Prisons and penal reform
Human rights and treatment of prisoners; racism and discrimination in prisons - contact Amanda Dissel at adissel@csvr.org.za

Sex and sexual violence in prisons - contact Sasha Gear at sgear@csvr.org.za

Young offenders - contact Amanda Dissel at adissel@csvr.org.za or Kindiza Ngubeni at kngubeni@csvr.org.za

Restorative justice
Contact Tshegofatso Maswabi at rji@rjc.co.za

Policing
Police integrity management/anti corruption - contact Gareth Newham at gnewham@csvr.org.za

Police accountability and human rights - contact David Bruce at dbruce@csvr.org.za

Justice - witness management programme
Contact David Bruce at dbruce@csvr.org.za

City safety
Contact:
Amanda Dissel at adissel@csvr.org.za

Rural safety Contact Amanda Dissel at adissel@csvr.org.za