Mentoring programme as a diversion intervention for child offenders : a case study of National Development Outreach Centre in the Tshwane Region

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the mentoring diversion programme provided to child offenders referred to the National Youth Development Outreach Centre (NYDO) by the courts. This research study uses a qualitative research approach. A structured questionnaire was administered to the participants, after the main themes were identified from an analysis of the completed questionnaires. Central themes that emerged related mainly to participants’ unique understanding of their deviant behaviour. The themes that emerged during data collection and analysis was the factors that predispose children to deviancy. The results indicated that the National Youth Development Outreach Centre has developed a mentoring intervention programme that is meeting the needs of these child offenders, by giving them the opportunity to reflect on their deviant behaviour and aims to assist them in changing their behaviour. The researcher noted that children who participated in the study seemed to have developed an insight into their behaviour and have realised the importance of accountability and the willingness to change so much. So, most participants indicated that the mentoring programme should have facilitators in all schools. In addition, the NYDO has contributed positively in improving the relations of child offenders and their parents/ guardians by empowering the parents or guardians with good parenting skills and providing them with a support system in a form of home visits and aftercare programme. The study also highlighted numerous research and methodological difficulties inherent in this study. These problems and recommendations for future studies are discussed. The study provides continued support use of the NYDO mentoring diversion programme when dealing with child offenders who have been diverted from the criminal justice system.