criminology

• what is the criminal justice system designed to do- enforce laws, endure public safety and deliver justice, to those who seek it and those who committed crimes.
• the main components (3 arms) of the CJS- law enforcement, courts and corrections
• what type of functioning does the CJS have?


  Sequential functioning
• what does law enforcement comprise of - SAPS, metropolitan police services and the independent police directorate.
• what is the first pillar of the CJS?

  law enforcemet
• what are the responsibilities of the police?

  Preventing, combating, and investigating crime, maintaining public order, protecting and securing citizens and their property, upholding and enforcing the law.
• what is the mission of the police?

  Protect and prevent crime ,Investigate crime Ensure justice is served , participate in efforts to address causes of crime
• how many divisions are there in SAPS- 11
• what is DoJ&CD?

  The department of justice and Constitutional development
• what is DCS?

  The department of correctional services
• what is DHA?

  The department of home affairs
• what is the main focus of the DOJ&CD?

  they manage the court systems
• what is NPA?

  The National Prosecuting Authority
• What is one statutory function of Metropolitan Police Services?

  Crime prevention
• When was the justice, crime prevention and security cluster established in South Africa?


  2004
• The justice, crime prevention and security cluster (CPJS) was established

  1994
• Departments of the CPJ

  • SAPS
  • The Department of justice and Constitutional development (also comprises of the NPA, DCS, Home Affairs, and SSA)
• The SAPS is mandated to investigate and prevent crime
• The DoJ&CD focuses on the management of the court
• The NPA is focusing on the prosecution of the suspects
• The DCS focuses on the incarceration of the offenders and well as the rehabilitation of the inmates
• South African Police Services (SAPS)

  • Is national
  • Is the first step of the CJS when an arrest is made
  • Gatekeeper of the CJS
  • Have different responsibilities, missions, and visions revolving around preventing, combating, and providing service to the community
• Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)


  • Provides for the establishment of municipal or metropolitan police services
  • Enforce the law but can't investigate or detain criminals
  • Assist in dealing with traffic accidents or traffic flow problems
  • Support the SAPS
• Statutory functions of the MPS

  • Crime Prevention
  • Traffic policing
  • Municipal by-law enforcement
• How can the MPS prevent crime

  1. Increasing police visibility

  2. Improving response time

  3. Crackdown operation (stop and search, roadblocks)
• Traffic policing

  1. Consists of checking driver's license, roadworthiness of vehicles, and enforcing road laws

  2. NTP (national traffic police) mandated to undertake special traffic operations

  3. Jurisdiction all over the country
• South African Police Service (SAPS) vs Metropolitan Police Services (MPS) vs Traffic Police

  • JURISDICTION: SAPS - National, MPS - Regional, Traffic Police - National and local
  • RESPONSIBILITIES: SAPS - General law enforcement, crime prevention, MPS - Law enforcement in designated metro areas, Traffic Police - Traffic management and enforcement
  • AREA OF FOCUS: SAPS - General crime, public safety and security, MPS - Crime prevention, public safety, traffic, Traffic Police - Traffic law enforcement and road safety
  • WHAT THEY CAN AND CANT DO: SAPS - Can arrest, investigate crimes, and enforce the law, MPS - Can arrest, enforce laws within metro area, Traffic Police - Can enforce traffic laws and issue citations
• Independent Investigative Directorate (IPID)

  • Acts as a watchdog over the SAPS and the MPS
  • Mandate to investigate complaints of brutality or misconduct by members of the SAPS and the MPS
  • Operates separately
  • Mission to promote proper police conduct
  • Vision to promote police conduct by the principles of t
• Independent Investigative Directorate (IPID)

  • Acts as a watchdog over the SAPS and the MPS
  • Mandate is to investigate complaints of brutality or misconduct by members of the SAPS and the MPS
  • Operates separately
  • Mission is to promote proper police conduct
  • Vision is to promote police conduct by the principles of the Constitution
  • Mission is to conduct an independent, impartial, and quality investigation of criminal offences allegedly committed by law enforcement
  • Anyone can lodge a complaint against a member of law enforcement
• According to Section 28 of the IPID Act 1 of 2011, they will investigate:
• Investigations by IPID

  • Any death in police custody
  • Death as a result of police actions
  • Rape by a police official
  • Rape of any person in police custody
  • Corruption matters
• Matters IPID may not investigate


  • Domestic violence cases
  • Matters that happened before ICD opened on the 1st of April 1997
  • Service delivery complaints against the SAPS and MPS members
  • Matters that have been dealt with by courts or are currently being dealt with by a court
• The 3 theories of the Criminal Justice System (CJS)

  • Restorative
  • Retributive
  • Transformative
• Restorative Justice

  • Centres on a community-based response to crime
  • Provides opportunities for redemption for offenders and reconciliation with victims
  • Victim-centered approach
  • Involves both individual and social approaches
  • Goal of reintegration for the offender
  • Allows victims to testify at hearings
  • Examples of peace-making between offender and victim to develop trust and understanding
• Retributive Justice


  • Belief that everyone who commits a crime should suffer a punishment enforced by a court of law
  • Focus on deterrence and maintaining law and order
  • Punishment must outweigh the pleasure the offender found in committing the crime
  • Examples of programmes like Scared Straight
• Transformative Justice

  • Focuses on changing systems and conditions that lead to harm
  • Examines social, political, and economic systems contributing to wrongdoing
  • Criticises the CJS as essentially unjust
• SAPS Divisions?

  crime intelligence, visible policing, community policing , sector policing
• purpose of the criminal theories?

  help explain human behavior and social phenomena, help us predict the future, inform policy, offer solution
• criminal justice theories offer what?

  explanations for the causes and consequences of crime, penal systems and criminal behavior