Risk assessment of child offenders : a South African social work perspective
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Authors
Smith, Edgar Eben
Issue Date
2014-08-22 , 2013-02
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Assessment , Child and Youth Care Centre , Child Offender , Ecometrics , Probation Officer , Restorative Justice , Risk Assessment , Risk Management , Risk-Need-Responsivity Model , Social Worker
Alternative Title
Abstract
This study was interested in exploring the perceptions and experiences of social workers
about the nature and contents of conducting risk assessments with child offenders.
Considering the high level of crime and reoffending in South Africa, effective assessment is imperative. The goal of the research was to develop an in-depth understanding of how risk assessments of child offenders are conducted in practice. This was done by applying a qualitative research methodology. The study was conducted in the Western Cape. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was employed and data were analysed according to the framework provided by Tesch. The findings indicated that although prescribed instruments are used in the risk assessment of children in South Africa, they all have definite limitations. To enhance the quality of service rendered to child offenders, the development of a standardised risk assessment instrument is needed.
Description
Citation
Smith, Edgar Eben (2014) Risk assessment of child offenders : a South African social work perspective, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13862>