Challenges experienced by probation officers working with children in conflict with the law in the Johannesburg Metro Region (South Africa)

Muntuwenkosi Sibisi and Ajwang' Warria

Children and Youth Services Review, 2020, vol. 113, issue C

Abstract: South African legislation has mandated new roles and responsibilities for probation officers working with children in conflict with the law. These children who engage in criminal behaviour have been used or coerced by adults and sometimes by peers. In addition, sometimes the children commit crimes out of their own agency based on rewards gained. The crimes they commit range from petty crime such as begging, vagrancy, substance use to serious offences such as murder, rape and robbery. This was a qualitative study on the experiences of probation officers working with these children. The findings reveal that the environments in which the probation officers work under are often traumatic, lack resources and are few thus impacting efficient delivery of services. In addition, the implementation of the Child Justice Act (CJA) is hampered by abuse of the system by parents/caregivers and the child offenders. In as much as South Africa has made strides in protecting children in conflict with the law, these challenges should be addressed urgently in order for the successful implementation of the legislation, for children to be better protected and ultimately for safer communities.

Keywords: Probation officers; Children in conflict with the law; Social work; Johannesburg Metro Region, South Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:113:y:2020:i:c:s0190740919313532

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104949

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