Department of Criminal Justice

The Department of Criminal Justice is one of the six departments within the School of Law. The department offers a three years BA CRM undergraduate degree and two post-graduate degrees, namely, the BAHCRM Honours and MA CRM. The department has two major subjects – Criminology and Policing – which are offered from the first year up to final year. These courses combine theory with practice and this enables students to have a seamless entry into the workplace.

The department prepares students to be knowledgeable in the field of investigations (e.g. IPID, SIU) correctional services, and prosecutorial services. The department comprises of four staff members responsible for teaching and supervision of students. The department is currently partaking in community empowerment outreach organized by the Department of Safety and Security.

CRM 1541: Fundamental Criminology

1. General Introduction and Delimitation of the Field of Study
2. The crime concept
3. The causes of crime
4. Theoretical explanations for crime
5. The consequences of crime
6. The prevention and combating of crime

CRM 1641: Fundamental Criminology

1. The Classification of Criminals
2. Juvenile Delinquency
3. The processes of Administration of Justice
4. The Victim of Crime
5. Particular Types of Crime
6. Pathological Phenomenon 

CRM 2541: Juvenile Delinquency

1. Introduction
2. Definition of the Concepts
3. The Nature and Extent of Juvenile Delinquency
4. The causation of juvenile delinquency
5. The Treatment and Prevention of Juvenile delinquency
6. Differences between crimes committed by Boys and those by Girls
7. Juvenile Gangs
8. Summary

CRM 2641: Crime Prevention

1. Introduction
2. Definition of the Concepts
3. The History of Crime Prevention
4. Approaches to crime Prevention
5. Crime Prevention Models and Strategies
6. Primary crime Prevention
7. Secondary Crime Prevention
8. Tertiary Crime Prevention
9. South African National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS)

CRM 3541: Victimology

1. Introduction
2. Historical perspective
3. The concept victim and the scope of victimology
4. The process of victimization
5. Victim Vulnerability and Precipitation
6. The Victim and the criminal Justice System
7. Treatment of the Victim and the Prevention of Crime
8. Summary

CRM 3641: Criminal Justice System

1. Introduction
2. Correctional Services Act 111
3. Sentencing and punishment
4. Prison Community
5. Institutional Treatment of Offenders
6. Release of Offenders
7. Community Based Sentencing
8. Summary 

Police Studies

POS 1541

1. Historical development of policing (England, America, S.A. (pre-colonial & post-colonial)
2. Policing agencies – Interpol, Metropolitan police, Traffic police, Military police
3. Constitution
4. SAPS Act
5. Basic concepts in policing – Police force, Police service, Service orientation, Preventive policing
6. Democratic versus oppressive policing

POS 1641

1. Police role in the CJS
2. Components of the CJS – Structure of courts
3. Civilian oversight of the police – Secretariat, Parliamentary oversight, CPF
4. NCPS
5. Operational functions of the police

POS 2541

1. Introduction
2. Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act No.108 of 1996)
3. The Police Service Act (No. 68 of 1995)
4. The Green Paper on Safety and Security and the National Crime Prevention
5. Community policing policy framework and guidelines
6. White paper on Safety and Security
7. Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster priorities
8. Strategic plan for the SAPS
9. White paper on the transformation of the Public Service
10. ‘Batho Pele’ paper (1997)
11. Public Service Regulations

POS 2641

1. Introduction
2. SAPS Employee Regulations
3. Employment Equity Act (55 of 1998)
4. Policing obligations
5. Fundamental rights
6. Objectives of the Police Service
7. Policing powers
8. Criminal Procedure Act (51 of 1977)
9. Minimum force
10. Practical guidelines for investigators
11. Sentencing
12. Crime intelligence in proactive policing

POS 3541

Theme 1: Organisational structure of the South African Police Service (SAPS)

1. Structure of the SAPS
2. National and provincial
3. Ranking structure
4. Key concepts : management, supervision, administration
5. Occupational anomie

Theme 2: Managerial theories and approaches

1. The evolution of administrative theory
2. Administrative theory
3. Leadership styles – Likert’s leadership system, Downs’ bureaucratic leadership style
4. Leadership theories
5. Managerial approaches
6. Police administration at a police station
7. Public and private policing institutions

Theme 3: Supervision of police

1. South African police service act
2. Control
3. Ethics, inappropriate behaviour and liability
4. Police corruption

Theme 4: Human resource and community service

1. Police officers’ right to strike
2. Police unionism
3. Community policing
4. Evaluation methods and performance appraisal
5. Stress, wellness and employee assistance program