Making sure no child offender is left behind

From the article by Glynnis Underhill in the Mail and Guardian Online:

South Africa had finally fallen in line with the trend of most other countries, including several in Africa, which, for many years, have had separate laws dealing with child offenders.

"The Child Justice Act is new. In South African law we have never previously had a separate law that sets out how to deal with child offenders," said Ann Skelton, director of the Centre for Child Law at the University of Pretoria and an authority on the subject.

"We have previously had to make do with the Criminal Procedure Act, which is the general criminal justice system for all offenders."

The Child Justice Act has established a criminal justice system for minors that expands on and entrenches the principles of restorative justice in the criminal justice system, Skelton said. It ensures children's responsibility and accountability for crimes they have committed. Skelton applauded the Act for placing an increased emphasis on the effective rehabilitation and reintegration of children to minimise the risk of them reoffending.

Apr 29, 2010 Juvenile, Government, Region: Africa, Country:South Africa

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More on Restorative Justice at the UN Crime Congress

by Lynette Parker

Day two at the 12th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice didn’t yield as many comments of restorative justice, but there were some interesting statements made especially by the delegates from South Africa and Peru. On 13 April, the Plenary continued its discussion on Children, Youth, and Crime with more member states as well as non-governmental organisations and independent experts.

Apr 14, 2010 Juvenile, Country:Peru, Country:South Africa, Region: Africa, Region: Latin America, Correspondent:Lynette Parker, United Nations

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