Anni Hesselink

Behavioural characteristics of offenders with mental health disorders in a South African prison population

This exploratory study profiled behavioural characteristics of a non-random sample of 91 offenders with mental illness in a South African correctional facility. The sample is directly related to diagnosed cases from the correctional psychiatrists case load. The most prevalent mental disorders diagnosed amongst the research participants of this sample specific profile were schizophrenia (33%), major depressive (27.5%), bipolar mood (12.1%) and psychotic disorders (11%).

A criminological assessment of police brutality and criminality against women in custody in South Africa

In recent years, South Africa has become infamous for unacceptable high rates of police brutality and criminality. This article alludes to police brutality and criminality in general and explains women in custody’s fear and experience of police brutality in South Africa. A total of 56 women were interviewed over a 6-month period to determine the level of police brutality they endured while in custody. Special attention is given to the types of crime committed, police brutality endured during custody, whether they reported the incident of police brutality to officials, as well as their general feelings and attitudes (fear) towards the police. We found that a significant number of women committed crimes such as in possession of stolen property, malicious damage to property, armed robbery and dealing in drugs. Most of the women experienced physical assault (clapping, hitting and kicking) and verbal abuse (being sworn at) while in custody.

A criminological assessment on South African women who murdered their intimate male partners

This study aimed to unravel the offence-specific factors to murder by females of their intimate male partners. Participants were 15 South African women prison inmates serving sentences for murdering their male partners (age range from 22 years to 62 years). The majority (80%) of the sample were Black. Data were collected with in-depth one-on-one interviews with sentenced females and analysed from a criminological perspective according to reoccurring themes that emerged from the data. Results indicate availability of hit men and cultural consultation with sangomas or traditional African healers, substance abuse and experience of abuse to be associated with intimate male partner murders by females. Participants seemed to have also been driven to murder by jealousy, in regard to extramarital affairs by partners, and also to be acting in self-defence when the murder occurred. The females’ unique life histories explained their particular pathways to murder.

Sex Offender Assessment Procedures: A South African Comparison

This study reports on the results of a reflective case analysis of a first generation assessment procedure of a chronic offender. The assessment focused on offenders experiential world and his pathway to crime, including precipitating crime risk factors as well as treatment needs to direct an intervention. The results of this assessment are compared with the results of a third-generation appraisal scale to evaluate the corresponding and/or different findings of these assessments. Findings suggest comparability of corresponding assessment indicators, suggesting that first and third generation assessment techniques can be integrated in corrections rehabilitation.